At fair equity, we are very pleased to share another important milestone: we have completed our second investment.
With our investment in fairafric, we are supporting a company that exemplifies how sustainable value creation, entrepreneurial action, and social impact can go hand in hand.
For the more than 280 employees and over 380 cocoa farmers working with fairafric, this is about far more than chocolate—it is about opportunity, dignity, and long-term economic prospects.
From Bean to Bar—in Ghana
More than 90% of the world’s cocoa is exported as a raw commodity from countries of origin such as Ghana to the Global North. The actual value creation usually takes place outside the producing countries.
fairafric deliberately takes a different path: the company produces chocolate entirely in Ghana—from bean to bar. This ensures that industrial value creation, know-how, and skilled jobs remain where the cocoa is grown.
Why We Chose fairafric
Our investment decisions follow a clear guiding question: Does this business model create measurable and long-term socio-economic value locally?
In the case of fairafric, the answer is unequivocally yes.
Industrial jobs on the ground: fairafric has already created more than 280 permanent jobs in a structurally disadvantaged region—stable employment with long-term prospects.
Know-how and value creation in the country: Through local production, expertise, industrial capabilities, and economic value remain sustainably anchored in Ghana.
Fair Conditions for Cocoa Farmers:
fairafric pays up to four times the Fairtrade premium to its contract farmers, enabling better working conditions and genuine long-term prospects. Currently, more than 380 cocoa farmers work under contract with fairafric—and for every single one of them, the company covers full health insurance.
Living Incomes: Some employees earn up to four times the industry-standard wage, allowing living-wage levels to be reached and households to be lifted sustainably out of poverty. In addition, fairafric provides three free meals per day as well as free transportation to the production facility.
What the Investment Is About
The invested capital will be used to purchase new chocolate-making machines, expand production capacities, and—most importantly—invest in people. Together with fairafric, we aim to create around 100 additional jobs and increase the number of contract farmers by approximately 250.
A Partnership on Equal Footing
Before making our investment decision, we visited Ghana in August, met Michael Marmon-Halm and the management team, and toured the production facilities and cocoa farms. The open dialogue and transparency on the ground reinforced our decision. Another visit is already planned.
Our thanks also go to Jonas Schaller, who supported the process from the very beginning, as well as to founder Hendrik Reimers, whom we had the pleasure of meeting in person during our anniversary trip to Mallorca.
Special thanks go to Vanessa Ennen for the smooth and highly professional execution, and to our partners in Lagos at TLP Advisory—Odunoluwa Longe and Esther Nkechinyere Odunze.
Outlook
This investment is a prime example of our approach at fair equity: combining philanthropic capital with entrepreneurial solutions to achieve long-term impact through jobs, local value creation, and economic participation.
We are truly excited about this special chocolate collaboration—and about everything that lies ahead.
