Marks & Spencer Expands Ethical Cocoa Sourcing with Long-Term Investment in Yeyasso Cooperative in Côte d’Ivoire

Marks & Spencer Expands Ethical Cocoa Sourcing with Long-Term Investment in Yeyasso Cooperative in Côte d’Ivoire

(IN BRIEF) Marks & Spencer has announced a long-term partnership with the Yeyasso cocoa cooperative in Côte d’Ivoire aimed at improving farmer incomes and strengthening community resilience as part of its Plan A for Farming strategy. Developed with the Fairtrade Foundation, the initiative combines the Fairtrade Premium with additional financial investment over two years to help protect cocoa farmers’ incomes from market volatility and climate-related challenges. The program supports projects such as school construction, solar water pumps, agricultural training and new cocoa planting, while also helping farmers cover household expenses and diversify their income. Cocoa farmer Diomandé Léontine will be featured on M&S Choc Marks packaging to highlight the people behind the cocoa supply chain. The initiative also marks Marks & Spencer as the first UK retailer participating in the Shared ImPact initiative, with plans to expand the program’s reach in the coming years.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 26-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — M&S has launched a new long-term collaboration with the Yeyasso cocoa cooperative in Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing its commitment to responsible cocoa sourcing and improved incomes for farmers in one of its principal West African supply regions. The initiative forms part of the retailer’s Plan A for Farming strategy, which is focused on strengthening farming communities and ensuring the long-term sustainability of agricultural supply chains.

The partnership, developed in cooperation with the Fairtrade Foundation, will provide targeted financial support to the Yeyasso cooperative over a two-year period to improve economic stability and community development. While cocoa used in the M&S Choc Marks chocolate range is already Fairtrade-certified, the new initiative introduces enhanced long-term support through the Fairtrade Premium, which provides additional payments directly to farmers. These funds are collectively managed by cooperative members and invested in projects designed to strengthen resilience and environmental sustainability within the community.

Projects supported by the Fairtrade Premium have included the construction of schools and solar-powered water systems, agricultural training programs to improve crop health, the purchase of equipment for pruning and spraying, and the planting of new cocoa trees. These initiatives are intended to support both productivity and environmental stewardship while improving living standards for farmers and their families.

Among those benefiting from the program is cocoa farmer Diomandé Léontine, one of approximately thirty women in the Yeyasso cooperative involved in cocoa production. The Fairtrade Premium has enabled her to contribute to school expenses for her children and diversify her income by selling locally produced goods.

In addition to the Fairtrade Premium, Marks & Spencer will provide further financial support over the next two years to help protect farmers’ incomes from fluctuations in cocoa prices and the effects of climate change. This additional funding is intended to ensure that cooperative members can maintain a stable income and plan for the future despite uncertainty in global commodity markets.

The initiative also seeks to highlight the role of cocoa farmers in the chocolate supply chain. Packaging for the M&S Choc Marks range will now include a feature on Diomandé Léontine, offering customers insight into the people who grow the cocoa used in the products.

Lucinda Langton, Head of Sustainability at M&S Food, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to ensuring fair compensation throughout its supply chain. She noted that cocoa farmers are facing increasing challenges from climate change and rising quality expectations, and emphasized that long-term partnerships help communities adapt and safeguard cocoa production for future generations.

Kerrina Thorogood, Partnerships Director at the Fairtrade Foundation, highlighted Marks & Spencer’s role as the first UK retailer to participate in the Shared ImPact initiative, noting that the company’s commitment to sourcing from Yeyasso and supporting the Fairtrade Living Income Programme is already benefiting farmers and their communities.

The Fairtrade Foundation and Marks & Spencer plan to encourage additional companies to join the Shared ImPact initiative in 2026, with the goal of expanding the benefits of improved incomes and sustainable farming practices to more producers around the world.

All products in the M&S Choc Marks range are made using Fairtrade-certified cocoa, supporting the retailer’s broader commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainable agriculture.

Media Contact:

Corporate.Press@marks-and-spencer.com
Telephone: 020 8718 1919

SOURCE: Marks and Spencer