Cultivating excellence: ETHICALLY SOURCED fine flavored cocoa & sustainable practices!
The St Vincent Cocoa Company (SVCC) is 100% Vincentian, registered in St Vincent, operated by Vincentians and employing Vincentians. We are creating a cocoa industry in St Vincent because it has nigh on perfect conditions for cocoa production. As well as building a great business, we firmly believe that we can make a real difference to the lives of many Vincentians.
Growing, processing and exporting premium cocoa to a very exact and strict criteria is a meticulous process requiring significant resources and logistical standards and this goes hand in hand with doing this in the right way; sustainably and ethically.
THE ENVIRONMENT COMES FIRST
We only farm outside the designated protected forest and water catchment areas and we only plant on previously cropped lands and as such Deforestation is a non-issue.
Our cocoa is grown in the recognized Agroforestal System with indigenous trees such as mangoes and a high canopy is maintained together with inter-planting of long-term tree crops such as Mahogany.
Fair pay for a fairer world
The price we pay for Farmers’ cocoa is considerably higher than the recommended Fairtrade rate. As we buy wet beans directly from farmers, our price does not take into account the additional cost to us of processing the beans.
We provide all 100 of our Workers with salaries exceeding the government's minimum wage and offer all of our employees the chance for Career Advancement and higher pay within the company.
Integrity at the heart of every decision
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has ratified international conventions and local laws related to child labor, and there is absolutely zero chance of child labor in the cocoa supply chain of our company. Majority of our cocoa is from in-hand farming; all of our employees being aged 18 or over. Our workers aside, the Farmers we buy cocoa from grow standard cash crops in addition to cocoa without the opportunity or need for child labor.
In all our time farming cocoa in St Vincent we have never come across a single incidence of child labour and that is our absolute promise.
Naturally we have a strict Gender Equality Policy operating throughout the company. We are just as happy to hire women as men for all roles and pay is equal!
TRACING THE JOURNEY
Traceability is a pillar of our business and as such all our farm locations as well as farmers we buy from are GPS mapped. We even go as far as mapping the different varieties of cocoa we develop and grow in our gene bank & nursery.
Additionally we use lot and batch numbers throughout processing (from fermentation to storage) which allows us to pick any random bag from storage and know everything about the cocoa in that bag and why it has the characteristics that it has.
Leadership by example
Accountability is at the heart of our company principles. Every single person in the cocoa company is accountable for what they do individually and ultimately, each of the three members of the Board of Directors (below) is responsible and accountable for the actions of the St Vincent Cocoa Company.
Harry MaRRIOT
CHAIRMAN
Harry was brought up on a winery/olive farm in Portugal and then England where he was educated at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, obtaining a degree in Rural and Estate Management and thereafter qualifying as a chartered surveyor.
AIDON SHEARMAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR
After winning the Nelson Mandela Island Scholarship after graduating the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College in 2007, Aidon went on to pursue studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus in Barbados…
CHRISTOPHER DAIZE
FARMS DIRECTOR
Christopher Daize is the Farms Director at our cocoa farming company, bringing extensive knowledge and experience in farming to his role. Growing up on a farm, he learned the ropes from his grandfather and has since become…
Would you like to help us build An AMAZING COMPANY?
To build an outstanding company, we need outstanding employees and we are always looking for those. Are you someone who looks towards the future with an open mind? Prepared to take on any challenge? We’re looking for you! Apply below.
ARE YOU A PASSIONATE COCOA FARMER IN ST VINCENT?
Without Farmers our company would not exist today. Farmers are the heart of our operations and as such we are always open to buying Farmers’ cocoa. Are you a Cocoa Farmer operating in St Vincent? Are you interested? Get in touch with us now.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CHOCOLATE PRODUCED WITH OUR COCOA?
Our sister company, St Vincent Chocolate Company, locally known as Vincentian Chocolate, produces delicious chocolate for the local and regional markets using our fine flavored cocoa. Are you interested in Vincentian Chocolate? Learn more below.