Hello and welcome, from Dr. Kristy Leissle, ACM Founder & CEO.
After working in the cocoa industry for nearly twenty years – as a researcher, consultant, educator, scholar, marketer, and thought leader – I founded ACM on the conviction that cocoa in Africa is grown and traded with sustainability, quality, and excellence.
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 as well as the entrepreneurs and business leaders across the continent who trade and process cocoa.
But not everyone has had the opportunity to see what I have seen in Africa.
For too long, sensationalist headlines that rely upon negative stereotypes have distorted investment into African cocoa markets. At the extreme end, these stories have led cocoa buyers, chocolate brands, journalists, activists, and even chocolate lovers to fear African cocoa.
When I have spoken and worked with these groups, I’ve been struck by the fact that many seem comfortable making sweeping judgments about African people, their lives and their work, without ever having stepped foot upon the continent.
The distances across this value chain are often vast. So much gets lost as cocoa travels from farms in Africa to factories outside, and from there into the hands of chocolate lovers.
I founded ACM to close that distance.
I am interested in making the hard work of the women and men who grow, trade, process, and market cocoa and chocolate across Africa seen and valued, so that they can get a more respectful return on their considerable investment in this crop.
My team and I know it will take time to build trust in us. We are a new company with an ambitious mission, and we go into our work every day with our eyes open to the challenges ahead.
But we are ready, and the challenges are what motivate us.
We are here for the long haul. You’ll be seeing a lot of us!
We hope you will join us on this journey.
In 2024, we are developing the pilot for a digital marketplace that will efficiently connect sellers in Africa with global buyers, investors, and service providers. Our platform will make it easy for buyer and sellers alike to share their value propositions and provide evidence of best practices with potential business partners. We are currently serving select clients who want to assure their own customers that their work in African cocoa is built upon excellence and fosters trade justice. We also provide risk assessment and risk mitigation support to clients working towards EUDR compliance.
