Green & Black's

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It all started back in London in 1991 when Craig Sams, founder of Whole Earth – the pioneering organic food company – was sent a sample of dark 70% chocolate made from organic cocoa beans.

His wife, environment columnist for The Times and confirmed chocoholic, Josephine Fairley, found the half eaten bar on Craig's desk and sampled some for herself. The intense flavour was unique and unlike anything she had tasted before. Jo was convinced other chocolate lovers would appreciate it in the same way she had and they set about making the world's most pioneering Organic chocolate brand.

The final product was a high-quality, bittersweet dark chocolate bar, packed with 70% cocoa solids - enough to make chocolate fans sit up and take notice.

As the brand began to gain a loyal following, Maya Gold was added to the range in 1994 – the product of a holiday Jo & Craig went on to Belize, where they met a group of Mayan smallholder farmers who had planted cocoa trees at the request of a large chocolate company which subsequently withdrew from Belize leaving the farmers with no market. Craig & Jo agreed to buy the farmers cocoa at a fair price and used the beans to create Maya Gold based on the flavour of a traditional Mayan chocolate drink.

This way of doing business didn't seem different to them – it was what came naturally – and in the process, the Maya Gold brand earned them the UK's first Fairtrade mark.

Craig & Jo could never have imagined that Green & Black’s would become such a huge success when they started out in Portobello Road, London back in 1991. Today, we remain true to the original values of their business, with ethical trading & organic products. Our aim continues to be the creation of chocolate products that give a taste experience like no other. We believe every new creation has to be the best of its kind we’ve ever tasted & take time and care to bring out the distinct flavour that has now become our trademark.

Based in London near Waterloo, Green & Black’s is now owned by Cadbury plc. We operate as a stand alone business with founder Craig Sams remaining as President. Cadbury will be able to help us maintain our growth and take Green & Black’s further as an international organic chocolate brand. You will be pleased to know that as Cadbury is treating Green & Black’s as an independent business – so our great tasting chocolate will stay the same, as will our ethical sourcing and business practices.

To reiterate, the taste of our chocolate and sourcing of the ingredients remain the same. The ethical, fair trade & organic principles of our business also remain untouched.