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About Us
Based out of the Pacific Northwest, Good For Chocolate was founded in 2021 by Aliko Weste, a brand designer with years of experience in the natural food world. Aliko became heavily invested in the future of cacao following a transformational trip to Guatemala and upon returning to Washington State, he realized that there was a need in the Seattle Area for accessible, sustainable, equitable cacao. Seeking to create the solution, Good For Chocolate was born. We hold the intention to bring restoration, healing, and balance to a broken industry.
With the help of his friend and Good For Chocolate’s CFO Rachel Taylor, Aliko brought into formation a new opportunity in the chocolate industry, an opportunity that puts farmers first and corporate profits in the dust bin. The average compensation for cacao growers in the current chocolate industry is 5% of profits, whereas GFC creates a 30% revenue stream to all farmers, supporting those who need it most. Equitable business starts in the foundations, and Good For Chocolate’s mission lies in the bedrock - people, process, sustainability.
Follow along with us as we build the brand, create distribution processes, and get the magic of raw cacao into the hands of chocolate lovers everywhere.
THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF AMERICA
We have been recently accredited by the better business Bureau of America as of November 2021! We are so honored to be participating in integrous business and are honored to be taking part in a global conversation to increase business standard for people and the planet.
Check out our Accreditation!
THE PROBLEM
1.
THE CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY
The chocolate industry is the number 1 source of child and slave labor next to coffee. The average chocolate companies pay their farmers in less than 5%.
3.
All major chocolate companies like Mars and Nestle grow their cacao as a mono crop. Like corn, or soy, it is damaging to the soil and ecosystems around them.
CHOCOLATE IS A MONOCROP
Chocolate is refined when you buy it in stores. It has been separated and exstracted from its original form multiple times before it even gets to the chocolate factories.
2.
CHOCOLATE IS REFINED
Our Team
Aliko is the founder and director of U Productions, a company that is dedicated to giving infinite opportunites to creatives in order to live in a world that we are proud to live in. Aliko does this in his every day life through event production, brand development, business coaching and more. Aliko became inspired by holistic cacao on his trip to Guatemala in December, 2020. His life was forever changed when he discovered the damaging effects of the cacao industry on people and nature. When he discovered what these farms were doing in Guatemala he swore to himself that he would make raw, organic, permaculture grown cacao available in the Pacific Northwest. He already knew how to build brands and businesses so he took on the adventure of founding Good for Chocolate. Once it's up and running, he intends to gift the business to someone who needs it more than he does. To learn more about Aliko, visit: www.weareuproductions.com/work-with-me
Kenneth Telesco is happy to be a supporter and Board Member of Good for Chocolate. Originally from New York, he's lived and played in many cities across the United States, with San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Austin and Seattle being some of his favorites. He's worked extensively in theatre as an actor, dancer, director, producer, stage manager, instructor and techie. He also has a long history of working in sales and for the last 15 years has represented the beautiful and locally produced Stickman Leather line of handmade products at Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market. He's recently worked on a multitude of political campaigns and elections across the country and this summer Kenneth will begin an intensive training program to become a Relationship Coach. A chocolate lover through and though, he's delighted to be supporting the vision of, Good for Chocolate.
Born and raised in the PNW, Rachel is an avid designer, writer and organization champion with extensive experience in workplace management. Traveling the world full-time, Rachel has made it her mission to bring equity and sustainability to existing industries, while partnering with visionaries from around the globe in the pursuit of human equality and regenerative livelihoods. Alongside this good work, Rachel is also finishing her first novel, uploading articles to her mini blog on her various adventures and cooking with her wonderful partner Ken.
Collaborations
Allison Gee has a Masters Degree in Holistic Business Administration and two Bachelor’s Degrees, in Theatre and in Early Education. She started at Good for Chocolate by volunteering to be the Instagram Wizard and then started selling chocolate at fair booths. She is passionate about getting smart cacao into the hands of the magical lands in the Pacific Northwest and hopes to help GFC grow and blossom with her many admin talents.
Heirloom Wellness
In short, Heirloom is a small pop up operated by a queer, African American femme, Brittani Anglin. Handmade products & genuinely crafted goods are currently the forefront of Heirloom.
Brittani began as an artist and designer making installations, macrame jewelry and home goods. She’s also created ceramic pieces throughout her 20s. Over the course of 8 years she has run an Etsy business, sold crafts at small vending markets, cafes and galleries along the west coast.
Heirloom Wellness is at its beginnings an evolution of her experience in sales and art. The desire and slow growth progression, is a stepping stone to a community wellness center with preventative care practices. In its future it intends to hold space for a retail shop, cafe, garden along with community rooms for workshops and events.
A root with many buds indeed!
Ways to support Heirloom: Follow and share @Heirloom.Wellness Instagram
