Committed gastronomy across the world: our subsidiaries in action
Whether in Spain, Japan, China, South Africa, Asia-Pacific or Italy, Valrhona's subsidiaries are involved in the field, carrying out projects in partnership with gastronomy professionals and with local associations.
DUBAI
The Dubai Business Unit covers a vast market stretching across Africa, the Persian Gulf and India, all the way to Madagascar. Valrhona supports Gastronomy professionals in this market with their partners and dedicated teams. Since 2019, the Valrhona teams, Wild Peacock South Africa and Chef Margot Janse have joined forces in a solid project with the aim of having a positive impact on the Isabelo association in South Africa.
The Isabelo association, founded in 2009 by South African chef Margot Janse, is known for its commitment to the communities most affected by poverty and works in particular with malnourished children in this country. The association’s aim is to provide schoolchildren with food to ensure that they get at least three meals a day. The Millot 74% couverture, made with cocoa beans from the Madagascar Plantation, was chosen to spearhead the partnership between Valrhona and Isabelo.
What protocol was put in place? For every kilo of this chocolate couverture purchased, Valrhona and the distributor in each country donate €1 each (i.e. €2 collected per kilo sold). With these €2, the project can feed 2 children a day, providing them with 2 meals and 1 snack each.
From January to October 2023, 918 children benefitted from project, which distributed 1,836 meals. In view of its success, the partnership will be renewed in 2024.
ITALY
The Don Gino Rigoldi Foundation is an Italian non-profit whose objective is to help young people of all backgrounds find their way in society and the job market. Inspired by Graines de Pâtissier, Valrhona Italy has decided to set up some basic pastry and chocolate courses with the organization. In 2022, 32 hours of training were offered over two weeks to nine young men and one young woman in Milan.
HONG KONG AND AUSTRALIA
During our annual seminar in June 2021, our Asia and Pacific teams dedicated an afternoon to public interest bodies. In Hong Kong and Australia, our teams partnered with Food Angel by Bo Charity Foundation and Hope Delivery, respectively, to prepare meals for disadvantaged communities.
JAPAN
Valrhona Japan is proud to sponsor the first Food Made Good Japan Awards in 2021. Organized by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, with which Valrhona has created a guide and self-assessment tool for sustainable sweet cuisine, the
awards are given to restaurants that have a positive social and environmental impact.
CHINA
Since 2019, Valrhona China has supported the Couleurs de Chine association to improve access to education for Miao children in Danian. With a donation of €15,000, we are funding three-year scholarships for 17 students for the academic years 2019-2022.
SOUTH KOREA & SINGAPORE
In 2021, our team in Korea prepared surprise boxes of chocolates for a local center that works with children from disadvantaged families and also participated in a workshop to create reusable presentation trays for events and displays.
The Singapore team worked on a sustainable, reusable cake tin and delivered cakes to customers.