I’ve always believed in the power of thoughtful leadership as a tool for social change and, as the pendulum of governance has swung in the direction of people with an insatiable hunger for power, what it means to be a leader is first and foremost in my mind.
A great leader builds and unites rather than divides and diminishes. At Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, we’re incredibly fortunate to have fantastic leaders throughout our entire staff, building and uniting in the little ways we can each and every day. It so happens that most of our team are women and, in celebration of International Women’s Day, I send my heartfelt thanks to these tremendous women, who lead by serving, each in their own beautiful, admirable way.
It all started with our beloved founder Mimi Wheeler, who cultivated a love for super delicious dark chocolate throughout the region. Now we're led by our incredibly talented managers, Gabi (Chocolate & Production), Kara (Gelato Shop), Lori (Operations), Mady (Chocolate Shop), our shop and kitchen staff Sienna, Tracey, Chris, Lilah, Jen, Oksana, Stella, and Sky, plus Laurel (gardens), Irene (cleaning), Beth (bookkeeping), Brianne (art), Dana (accounting) and Kathy, Margaret and Joan (board of advisors). We’re truly a women-driven business, which has proven to be a super power.
As we move up our chocolate supply chain toward the farmers, women are the unsung heroes of craft chocolate, stirring up innovation, creativity, and resilience at every stage of the process. Despite their undeniable contributions, women make up between 60% to 80% of the cocoa workforce in most regions, yet they hold only about 20% to 30% of leadership roles in the industry.
We’re fortunate to work with inspiring women who are rewriting the narrative of craft cacao and chocolate in producing countries. The entire chocolate industry depends upon the tireless efforts of millions of women cacao farmers and laborers, who's hopes and dreams are just like those of yours and mine. We are deeply grateful to them today and always.
Our incredible chocolate is the result of an almost twenty year friendship with Jenny from Conexión Chocolate. She supplies almost all of the chocolate we use at Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate. In an industry dominated by huge multi-nationals and wealthy private family firms, Jenny is making a name for herself and her brand, which supports thousands of small family farmers in Ecuador and is consistently some of the highest quality chocolate available around the globe.
Last year, Max and I visited Louise Topé in the Ivory Coast, who we hope to source from someday soon. Louise is founder of women’s cacao co-op called KANY Scoops, one of the first of its kind in West Africa. West Africa is the largest producer of cocoa in the world but also notorious for exploitation and under investment in farming families and communities. Louise created KANY as a vehicle for much-needed change in the Ivorian cacao sector. KANY uplifts the role of women and, in turn, benefits their families.
They are reforesting precious ecosystems and undertaking important community development projects. We visited a community that had just installed a public potable water faucet system in the village center. Prior, women walked an hour to collect water. We visited new schools, where families have the option to send their children rather than taking them to the fields. Louise and KANY are behind all of this. You can learn about and support KANY's agroforestry projects through the non-profit Grow Ahead.
I’m endlessly inspired by women like Jenny and Louise and, in my opinion, they are the embodiment of great leadership.
All around Michigan you can find delicious craft chocolate companies, many of whom are run by long-time friends who are doing really cool things in their respective corners of the State. Raj from Dwaar, Alex from Bon Bon Bon, Elizabeth from Harvest, Chef Anne Boulley, Jenny from Yellow Bird, the Mindo team, Shayna from Great Lakes Chocolate, Patricia’s Chocolate. The Michigan Craft Chocolate Movement is women-led!
Finally, to my brilliant colleagues, Anne and Alyssa, the only staff of the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund, where I have the great privilege of serving on the board of directors. Anne and Alyssa are fully committed to bettering the lives of small family farms while preserving global biodiversity by identifying and preserving rare varieties of cacao, no small task. Recently two projects, one in Madagascar and the other in Colombia, were paused by the current administration, despite funding that had already been appropriated by Congress. Anne and Alyssa remain steadfast in continuing the important work of HCP. Learn about and support the HCP's work here.
Win a Gift Card this week
If you choose to donate in any amount to KANY or the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund, send us a screenshot of the confirmation to chocolate@grocersdaughter.com and you’ll be entered to win a $100.00 Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate gift card. A winner will be chosen and notified on Thursday, March 13th. Thank you for joining us in support of projects that are working to create a better future for chocolate.
