Customer Area
cocoa journey
Knowing what’s in the bag
SACCO CONOSCIUTO
Since its origin, Ferrero has had an unwavering commitment to traceability. We call our approach “sacco conosciuto”, which stands for “knowing what’s in the bag”, as we continue sourcing from carefully selected suppliers and farmers to ensure product quality, freshness, and positive impacts across the supply chain.
Today, 100% of the cocoa we use to produce Ferrero Rocher is sourced through independent sustainability standards such as Rainforest Alliance, Cocoa Horizons and Fairtrade. Our cocoa beans are traceable to the farm where it was grown, and we use innovative technology to support our goals. For example, we partner with Sourcemap, a leading provider of supply chain mapping and digital transparency solutions and a tool for improving traceability, and prevent risks such as deforestation or child labour.
We source our cocoa mainly from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, complemented by Nigeria, Ecuador and Colombia.
We have created a dedicated Cocoa Charter, to clarify our sustainability ambitions and specify our requirements to suppliers, while tracking progress through action plans and progress reports.
SUPPORTING COCOA FARMERS
AND COMMUNITIES
Of the five million smallholder cocoa farmers, most of whom are based in West Africa, many live in poverty, which is one of the root causes of other systemic problems, including child labour and deforestation. In our Cocoa Charter, we state our ambition for a cocoa industry that is good for people and nature, and our commitment to make this ambition a reality through responsible cocoa sourcing.
We're a founding member of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, a partnership between the top cocoa-producing countries and leading chocolate and cocoa companies, which supports farmers and aims to protect and restore forests.
Ferrero is also a long-time member of both the World Cocoa Foundation and the International Cocoa Initiative to support work on good agricultural practices, fight child labour in cocoa growing communities and protect the environment.
Since 2017, Ferrero has partnered with Save The Children in a program to strengthen child protection systems, increase access to quality education and nutrition, support community development and empower women and adolescents. In September 2025, Save the Children and Ferrero, announced the renewal and scale-up of their partnership, co-funded by the Italian Cooperation, to support cocoa-growing communities in Côte d'Ivoire. The program will expand its reach from 85 to 235 communities by adding, in the next five years, 150 cocoa-producing communities in Côte d'Ivoire’s Haut-Sassandra region and Montagnes district (Tonkpi and Cavally regions).
Read more about progress in the Group's efforts to source cocoa responsibly in our Cocoa Progress Report, demonstrating commitment and tangible results in sustainable livelihoods, human rights and social practices, environmental protection and supplier transparency in our cocoa supply chains.
QUALITY
AT HEART
Cocoa harvests differ from year to year, and so we use our knowledge to create the best blends that will ensure the consistent quality and the utmost taste experience. Cocoa trees produce cocoa pods, each containing about 40 cocoa beans. The Cocoa beans are removed from the shells and left to ferment in heaps under banana leaves.
The farmers dry the beans in the tropical sun for about a week, then take them to a nearby purchasing point, like a small warehouse. Utmost care for quality is at the heart of every Ferrero Rocher chocolate bar. We source high-quality ingredients from carefully selected suppliers and farmers. They are then brought together through meticulous quality controls and regular tasting, ensuring a consistently refined taste experience.
