Pip & Nut has become the first UK snack brand to join Tony’s Chocolonely Open Chain to end exploitation, child labour, and modern slavery in the global cocoa industry.
Recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing, all natural, nut-based butter and snack brand, Pip & Nut has committed to sourcing the cocoa for its confectionary nut butter cups only through Tony’s Open Chain and its five sourcing principles.
These principles include: rigorous sourcing standards, robust traceability, paying the Living Income Reference Price for cocoa, and building long term partnerships with partner cooperatives to support farmers and develop thriving cocoa communities.
Pip & Nut has been looking to deepen and strengthen its existing commitments to ethical and sustainable sourcing, starting with the brand’s nut-butter cups and continuing with any new chocolate it makes.
“As a B Corp, we have an important role to play in championing ethical and sustainable sourcing across our supply chain,” said Pippa Murray, ceo and founder of Pip & Nut. “We’ve already started with our best ingredients – our nuts – by becoming one of only four participants in the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect against drought and the climate crisis through regenerative agriculture.
“Joining Tony’s Open Chain is a natural next step and why we are so proud to be the first UK snacking brand to become a Mission Ally. Our hope is that by joining the Open Chain, we can build long-term partnerships with our cocoa suppliers and work collectively to create a fairer, more ethical sector.”
Kitty Pandya, UK&I sales manager at Tony’s Open Chain, added: “We are delighted that Pip & Nut have joined Tony’s Open Chain as a new Mission Ally. Pip & Nut is a brand which has always and continues to truly advocate ethical and sustainable sourcing, and we welcome their commitment to the Tony’s Open Chain movement to end exploitation in cocoa together.”
The UK snacking brand joins a roster of global brands and retailers, including Huel, Ben & Jerry’s, Aldi: Choco Changer; and The Flower Farm committed to a better way of sourcing cocoa.
“Together, we can amplify our impact and drive meaningful change, working on a brighter future for cocoa farmers and their communities,” added Kitty.
Tony’s Chocolonely has recently been announced among the leading line-up to present at the Products of Change Conference – Sustainability in Brands, Licensing, Product, and Retail later this year. Taking the keynote slot, the brand will talk about its mission to end exploitation in the global cocoa supply chain both through its Open Chain sourcing initiative and its high-impact approach to marketing.
