Our role is being a facilitator for all key stakeholders in the supply chain of cocoa, worldwide

How we help the cocoa farmer

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For the producer, ZOTO ensures extraction of the best flavor potential of his cocoa beans.

We do this through:

  1. development of custom-made post-harvest protocols based on scientific know-how
  2. training cocoa producers the importance of the post-harvest processing steps
  3. fine-tuning a go-to-market strategy (from business plan to infrastructure designs to niche market penetration) 
  4. guaranteeing market access by
    1. promoting the cocoa beans at international fairs
    2. connecting the cocoa providers with chocolate makers/fine cocoa traders interested in that particular story or that special cocoa flavor
  5. guaranteeing a sustainable premium price for their exceptional cocoa

Because of our experience, we can create such protocols in a relative short period, preserving the traditional methods of the region. All this with one objective: production of award-winning cocoa beans!

This way of working towards a high quality bean ensures traceability and transparency and creates several added values for chocolate makers, resulting in premium prices for cocoa growers. This serves as an incentive towards a sustainable supply of exceptional cocoa towards chocolate makers.

How we help the chocolate maker

This is the famous Nicaraguan variety I have been connected to via various scenarios during my chocolate maker career. Actually, the very first time I was able to investigate this cocoa closely was during the field trip at test plantation more than …

This is the famous Nicaraguan variety I have been connected to via various scenarios during my chocolate maker career. Actually, the very first time I was able to investigate this cocoa closely was during the field trip at test plantation more than 4 years ago in Matagalpa, Nicaragua.

I have been lucky to secure the very last 60kg of this very special lot that was supervised and preserved by mad cocoa fermentation scientist Zoi Papalexandratou Ph.D in mid-2015. Let me take you on a taste experience of the deep and remote northern highlands of Nicaraguan mountains.

You will find more information on this chocolate hidden inside of this chocolate box.

Domantas Uzpalis, chocolatier

 

For the chocolate maker, our role lies in:

  1. help the chocolate maker in his quest to find the cocoa he/she has always been looking for
  2. link the chocolate maker direct with the cocoa provider
    1. offer quality fine flavor cocoa
    2. offer traceability
    3. offer transparency in post-harvest process
    4. offer a true direct trade story with science based facts
    5. offer smooth communication with cocoa grower during ordering process
  3. make customized protocols for post-harvest processing (flavor steering according to wishes of chocolate makers) of origins they already work with.
  4. Improve consistency in flavor profile for cocoas they source
  5. help making their chocolate product a reference in the market
 

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