Cadbury purchases “Maya Gold”

Belizeans who love their Cadbury chocolate may be interested to learn that Cadbury Schweppes has purchased a company that uses cacao beans grown right here in Belize. That’s right, Green & Black’s, the makers of Maya Gold organic chocolate bars is now part of this international corporation. Cadbury has retained the same management team and is letting Green & Black’s operate as before, but with the benefit of additional expertise, advice, and wider market access. Manager of the Toledo Cacao Grower’s Association, Gregor Hargrove, told News Five that the purchase is “all good news for Belize.” He reports that Toledo cacao farmers sold thirty-three tons of the beans last year and expect their sales to climb to fifty tons in 2006, with double that amount projected for 2007. Green & Black’s says they can purchase as much cacao as Belizean farmers can produce as the market for organically grown cacao is booming. In 2001, News Five reporter Jose Sanchez went to Toledo to do a story on what was at that time the world’s first organic chocolate bar, Maya Gold. We present that story once more in light of this current development in the confection industry.

[For text of story, see news archives for February 6, 2001]

The Maya Gold organic chocolate bar was created by husband and wife Craig Sams and Jo Fairley who came to Belize on holiday in 1999 and were inspired by a local drink made by Maya farmers, flavoured with cacao beans and spices. Sams continues to hold a stake in Green & Black’s and will continue as the company’s president after the takeover by Cadbury.