Sophie Tranchell MBE, the first MD of Divine Chocolate, and its CEO over the last 21 years, has left the Fairtrade company saying she is “incredibly proud” of what it has achieved.
Her decision to leave came last November and she has focused since then on ensuring the company was left in good hands and well-supported for the future.
During her leadership of Divine, Tranchell has been a prominent champion of Fairtrade, of business as a force for good, and of women achieving equality,
A company statement says: “She has demonstrated time and time again that things no-one thought possible can be done – starting with creating a chocolate company that turned ‘business-as-usual’ on its head by making farmers the biggest shareholders.”
Commenting on her departure, Sophi Tranchell says: “I am immensely proud of Divine, what it stands for and what it has achieved. With a great team, and investors who had the vision and patience to support us, we set out to make a real difference in the chocolate industry – a real transition towards more equitable trade that could never again be un-done. I believe Divine has led and catalysed such a change.
“I am immensely proud of Divine, what it stands for and what it has achieved”
“Working closely with farmers has been an absolute privilege – their lives have enriched mine and hopefully, via the farmers’ stories we have told, other lives have been enriched too. It has been especially rewarding to see the positive impact achieved for women as they are able to step up and take their rightful place in the chocolate story.
The same goes for both the extraordinary individuals I have been able to work with who have given their support, advice and inspiration, and the thousands of people who vocally and actively continue to join us on the journey. Divine wouldn’t be here today without all of them and their imagination, courage and commitment.
“Divine’s mission goes on – there is still a lot to do – but farmers’ income is right in the spotlight, as is the urgent need for social, environmental, and economic sustainability, so there is optimism for more positive developments. The Social Enterprise and B Corporation movements are setting inspiring examples and there is now a critical mass of discerning consumers who expect more of the companies they are buying from.
“I am reassured to be leaving the company with our main manufacturer Weinrich having capitalised the business, in the knowledge that Weinrich’s CEO Cord Budde has been, and continues to be a totally committed partner, sharing Divine’s values and supporting its mission and ambitions.”
This week Ludwig Weinrich GmbH & Co. K was announced as Divine’s news majority shareholder. Under the new arrangements, Kuapa Kokoo, the farmers’ co-operative in Ghana, that was a founding shareholder, will continue to own 20% of the shares and continue to have board representation.