Hershey cocoa spat tests limits of investor ethics 4 Dec 2020 Ghana and Ivory Coast may stop selling sustainable beans to the Reese’s maker, accusing it of dodging payments for impoverished farmers. That could make it harder for the $31 bln group to flaunt its sustainability kudos. The snag is that so far shareholders don’t seem to care.
Africa’s sweet cocoa cartel misses bigger prize 14 Jun 2019 Ivory Coast and Ghana have set a minimum selling price for the chocolate ingredient to try to help farmers. The pair control two-thirds of global supply, way more than OPEC does for oil. The real riches in cocoa, though, lie in processing the beans, not just growing them.
Franc gives West Africa good reason to like France 4 Feb 2019 Italy’s 5-Star says Paris is fuelling unemployment and migration by backing the region’s single currency. It’s true the 74-year-old franc keeps the zone’s 150 mln people oddly close to their old master. But its longevity proves the merits of stable prices over cheaper exports.
Credit Suisse ought to think about Thiam’s exit 7 Sep 2018 The boss of the Zurich-based lender has denied rumours he wants to run for president in his native Ivory Coast in 2020. Even so, completing most of the bank’s restructuring next year will be a natural exit point. Tidjane Thiam’s “long-term commitment” may last no longer than that.