Johannesburg, South Africa — African Cocoa Marketplace (ACM) has launched a marketplace service with a goal of connecting African cocoa sellers with global buyers and investors to elevate the value of Africa’s cocoa.
The launch of the digital marketplace is timed for the beginning of the main 2024-25 harvest season across Africa and will help sellers’ market their value propositions and business strengths to a global audience of buyers and investors. It will also help buyers find the exact cocoa products they need for their businesses according to their values, the group says.
ACM says it does due diligence with sellers to guarantee that marketing claim made by a seller have been vetted and certified according to ACM’s standards. ACM’s new certification is meant to enhance supply chain visibility and sustainability for cocoa.
Headed by Dr. Kristy Leissle, ACM has been in development for 18 months and has already begun onboarding sellers from Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. “Our platform will make it easy for buyers and sellers alike to share their value propositions and provide evidence of best practices with potential business partners.”
Denise Karway, United Women for Sustainable Development’s CEO from Bong County in Liberia, notes: “United Women for Sustainable Development is excited to join ACM. As a women-led cooperative dedicated to organic cocoa production and trade, this platform will give us a unique opportunity to connect with a broader market and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.
“Our goal is to expand our reach, increase sales, and support local communities by creating sustainable livelihoods. By leveraging the ACM platform, we hope to showcase our high-quality organic cocoa beans and ensure more women and youth are involved in the value chain. By joining ACM, we can work together to create a more equitable and sustainable future for the cocoa industry.”
Stephen Ashia from the ABOCFA Organic Cocoa Cooperative in Ghana adds that the 2023-24 harvest was not a good season because of climate change and other effects. However, he notes the farmers are hoping for a better yield for the upcoming main crop.
Leissle says: “When I look at African cocoa, I see a venerable past: well over a century of global leadership in cocoa production, with cocoa wealth, expertise, and knowledge passed on through generations. I also see a bright future, which lies in the hands of cocoa farmers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders across the continent who trade and process cocoa.”
