Raising the bar for 100% slave free chocolate with Althaea-de Laet Int.

We’ve always dreamed of owning our very own choco factory.. and now we do! And it’s a very special one indeed: the Belgian choco molding masters and Fairtrade afficionados Althaea-De Laet Int. Yes, this is the one-and-only family-run business that we partnered with from day one to make the very first Tony’s Chocolonely bars. They’ve supported us in our serious mission as well as our crazy ideas (unequally divided bars, anyone?), so it’s fair to say they feel like family to us, too.

So when the time came for the De Laets to find a successor, we were extremely honored to be asked. And we’re extremely excited to take our businesses into the future together while taking care of the team. Not to mention all the new possibilities – innovating faster, being more flexible in new product development and scaling up to source more beans using Tony’s 5 Sourcing Principles. Win win win! For family, friends and cocoa farmers.

Although we’re already 100% owners, aligning all of Althaea-De Laet’s existing business with our mission to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate won’t happen overnight. Happily, the De Laet family and management team will be staying on to show us the ropes for the next two years. Meanwhile, we’ll also keep on working with all our existing choco partners – from mission allies to suppliers, manufacturers and retailers – to bring our growing club of Choco Fans the Tony’s bars they love and trust.