Being a food chemist in Research, Development & Quality means dealing with new ideas all the time – and that’s what I love. Global sustainability is a priority for us, so it’s a chance to use great ideas to make a real difference to people’s lives. A few years ago, Kraft Foods’ work with the Rainforest Alliance encouraged us to look at cocoa farmers. A small team of colleagues in Munich pushed the project, and I was really keen to be involved.
So I had the chance to go around Ecuador for two-and-a-half weeks finding out what life’s like for farmers, how they grow and treat their beans, and what they need. The ingredients we use have amazing stories – as well as science – behind them, and that was an eye-opener. Plus, it led to action. We’re now one of the biggest buyers of sustainable cocoa beans in the world. And each time I see the Rainforest Alliance logo on our Côte d’Or range, it reminds me what an enriching and beneficial project I was involved in.