
“Everyone deserves access to good, affordable healthcare. For many cocoa farmers, however, this is still far from reality.”
Tony’s Chocolonely
Sweet isn’t enough – How Tony’s Chocolonely combines health equity with chocolate
An expanded health program for 5,000 families shows that sustainability begins with fairness in the supply chain. Anyone talking about sustainability in the hospitality industry today needs to think beyond organic ingredients and fair trade labels. Sustainable gastronomy begins where the ingredients are grown. A prime example of this is Tony's Chocolonely, the Dutch impact company that fights exploitation, poverty, and child labor in cocoa farming with its open supply chain and radically fair business model.
The latest milestone: Together with the Elucid health network, Tony's is expanding its successful health program for cocoa farmers from Ghana to Côte d'Ivoire. This will give 5,000 more families access to medical care, vaccinations, and mobile clinical care – in a region where health is still a luxury.
This is not just about medical aid, but about structural change: farmers are to gradually take on contributions themselves in order to support the programs in the long term. At the same time, Tony's continues to pay a premium for fair trade cocoa – an active step against the poverty that fuels exploitation in the industry.
Across all areas of life, the food service industry is becoming more emotional, flexible, and relevant: Chain restaurants are showing more character, transit dining is evolving from a quick stop to an experiential space, and in the context of New Work, cuisine is becoming a central factor for culture, health, and employer attractiveness.
Culinary arts are becoming a central component of urban spaces: In mixed-use projects, they drive foot traffic, foster a sense of identity, and redefine places. As a social engine, gastronomy connects people, revitalizes neighborhoods, and often becomes the first visible sign of change. At the same time, it gives brick-and-mortar retail new relevance—extending dwell times, increasing foot traffic, and making brands immediately tangible.
Bakeries are transforming into favorite urban destinations. Less variety, more statement. Bread becomes an experience – visible, fragrant, emotional. But hotels, too, are becoming living environments – and F&B the strongest differentiator in the competition for attention.
Sweet isn’t enough – How Tony’s Chocolonely combines health equity with chocolate