Olivier’s chocolate journey – DAFF

A holiday trip to Vanuatu in 2006 launched Olivier Fernandez on a journey to opening a world-class chocolaterie. In 2017 Olivier opened, Gaston Chocolat. Today from his factory on the main street of Port-Vila, on the island of Efate, he produces and sells artisanal chocolate to distributors across the globe.

Producing quality

Olivier uses pure, single origin Vanuatu cocoa to make the chocolate. He spent several years working with the local cacao growers to train them to produce the required quality. About 80 farmers have been trained. There are close to 300 farmers that currently supply cocoa to Gaston Chocolat.

Logistics and cost

The vastness of the Vanuatu archipelago leads to logistics and cost issues. Maintaining connections to the farmers and moving products around the islands is demanding. The primary commercial farms are located on 3 different islands in the north, in about 10 different locations.

Trucking and small inter-island freight boats are used to move between islands and to the main port. To visit these growers can take an hour’s flight coupled with half a day’s commute on land. You can only reach some villages and plantations via hiking logging tracks or through the rainforest.

While the local market takes the most advantage of the products produced, Gaston has developed a list of exporters and stockists around the world. They currently export to Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. Choosing the right countries and educating the customers on the expenses involved has helped Olivier create a sustainable business model that helps to preserve a profit margin.

Partnering to succeed

In 2020, Olivier signed a partnership agreement with PHAMA Plus to improve pre and post handling of cocoa. This has been done through obtaining HACP (food safety) and B-corporation certification. It’s a third-party standard requiring companies to build a more inclusive and sustainable social and environmental economy.

These certifications will help to boost the product’s quality. This will in turn increase supply and access to export markets.

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See the work we’re doing to improve trade and biosecurity in the Pacific.