Bridging the gap between cocoa growers and chocolate lovers
Harness the resources of specialty value chains to maximize development benefits to vulnerable stakeholders
Who are we
An alliance of independent consultants and cocoa-chocolate industry experts led by Bill Guyton and Kristy Leissle, PhD. Collectively, SCCA founders have 40+ years of experience working across the cocoa value chain, from farms to multinational companies, as well as with traders, processors, trade associations, and development partners.
While we have a robust network and demonstrated project success across the full value chain, we also have specialized experience at either end.
Kristy has spent close to 20 years working with cocoa producer organizations across Africa, conducting farm-level research and business management trainings for individuals, cooperatives, development organizations, and private companies.
Bill has founded and supported chocolate trade associations at global and regional levels, and stewarded many successful public-private partnerships amongst multinational and mid-size companies, bilateral development agencies, and local service providers.
Pioneers in cocoa excellence
Dr. Kristy Leissle is an internationally recognized expert in the cocoa and chocolate trade. She specializes in educational and research consulting to cocoa and chocolate companies and trade associations, as well as cocoa marketing and business development for African cocoa producer organizations.
Bill Guyton is a senior-level leader within international agribusiness and non-profit organizations, who is committed to global sustainability best practices. He specializes in creating public-private partnerships and developing resilient value chains and community-based programs.
Previously Founder and CEO of the World Cocoa Foundation, Bill has worked since 2018 with the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, first as Executive Director and then as Senior Advisor. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the World Food Law Institute, and is a member of The Alliance to End Hunger and the Association for International Agriculture and Development.
Navigating Cocoa Solutions
Brett Beach brings six years of development experience in Africa – including the U.S. State Department and USAID – and more than 15 years of FMCG business leadership in the U.S. and Europe. Co-founder and executive director of two ethical chocolate brands, MIA and Madécasse / Beyond Good, Brett has been involved in every aspect of the product journey from farm to market.
Brett gained an in-depth understanding of market dynamics by bringing more than 20 products from production in Africa to launch at trade shows and retailers: independents, Amazon, and national grocers Whole Foods Market, Waitrose, and Sainsbury’s.
Driving positive change
SCCA provides technical, educational, and marketing services to companies, organizations, and development partners in the specialty chocolate ecosystem. We support our clients to analyze, measure, and scale their sustainability and development impact, and assist companies to plan and build strategic partnerships. We specialize in Africa, and also have capabilities in Latin America and Asia cocoa markets.
Maximizing impact through strategic collaboration
We work with a unique three-stage process to assess, enhance, and market your sustainability strategy.
Packages that range from an hourly-based review, to a months-long strategy assessment and implementation plan.
We ask that all clients begin with Stage 1. Clients who anticipate working with SCCA for Stages 2 & 3 may be eligible for a preferred client discount.
As external consultants with deep knowledge of cocoa value chains, we provide fresh analytical insight into your sustainability approach. We offer a suite of tools and programmatic options to demonstrate your company’s or organization’s thought leadership and positive impact. Building on your existing successes, we develop technical, marketing, and educational capacity within your company or organization to enhance and magnify impact on the most vulnerable actors in your value chains.
For projects of appropriate scale, we build and manage public-private partnerships to leverage the resources of development partners and private sector actors. These partnerships ensure meaningful programmatic scale and scope, and measurable impact.
Maximizing impact through strategic collaboration
Growing together
We work with mid-size cocoa and chocolate companies, development agencies, and other key stakeholders in the specialty chocolate ecosystem. SCCA manages a unique network of relationships among companies and organizations that are eager to establish or grow their cocoa sustainability vision.
Contact us now to start a conversation about your strategy and concept note creation.
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