2026 Sustainability Award Winners

Every ingredient has a story that begins long before it reaches consumers. In this case, that story starts with the farmers who grow cocoa and the communities that depend on it.

Rich Products believes a more sustainable food system requires investing not only in responsibly sourced ingredients but in the people behind them. That philosophy is central to Generations of Good, its responsible business strategy that shapes how it approaches cocoa sourcing.

Rich's is committed to sourcing the majority of its direct-add cocoa ingredients used in products sold in the U.S. and Canada through a third-party verified sustainable cocoa program. This commitment supports responsible farming practices, strengthens supply chain transparency and helps create a more sustainable future for cocoa-growing communities.

But at Rich's, responsible sourcing is only the beginning. The company recognizes that long-term sustainability depends not only on how cocoa is sourced but on whether the people growing it have the resources needed to thrive. That's why it has connected sustainable cocoa sourcing to investments that strengthen farming communities.

Women contribute about 40 percent to 80 percent of the labor needed to bring cocoa from farm to market and play a critical role in farm productivity, quality and household well-being. Yet many face barriers to training, resources and leadership opportunities.

To address this, Rich's became a multi-year partner of Equal Origins, a nonprofit advancing gender equity across coffee and cocoa supply chains.

As one of the first corporate sponsors of Equal Origins' Executive Edition program, Rich's has helped agricultural organizations and cooperatives identify barriers and create more equitable opportunities for women in cocoa-growing communities.

The impact is significant. Equal Origins programs have reached farming families in 23 countries and engaged more than 530,000 families in gender-responsive training. More than 350 organizations across 43 countries use the Gender Equity Index, which has been integrated into cocoa supply chains reaching more than 500,000 farmers across 13 cocoa-producing countries.

By pairing responsible cocoa sourcing with investments that strengthen farming communities, Rich's is helping build a more resilient supply chain while supporting the people and communities that make it possible for generations to come.