We are 'uncommon' for a lot of reasons

Who is Uncommon Cacao?
Hello! Welcome to Uncommon Cacao,

As a specialty cacao trader, we source from 10,000+ smallholder producers across 15+ countries and supply cacao to hundreds of chocolate makers globally.

We are a certified B Corp and a Public Benefit Corporation, and I started this business out of a recognition of the responsibility and opportunity for intermediaries to decommoditize the cacao industry and do business differently.

Across Uncommon Cacao’s businesses, the company has pioneered a new cacao economy that pays farmers more and is grounded in real partnerships that deliver improved stability and success for all.

Our Transparent Trade model has been called best-in-class for transparency on farmgate pricing – we aren’t afraid to publicly disclose the prices paid across our value chain (and are still the only international cacao trader to do so after 10+ years!), with the ultimate goal of scaling a market which enables producer prosperity and provides the entrepreneurial ecosystem for producer success.

We work with all kinds of cacao buyers and chocolate makers as a problem solver and innovation partner. We promise to provide reliable quality cacao products accompanied by Transparent Trade data and stories from our cacao sourcing relationships, and to drive transformative supply chain solutions for cacao producers and chocolate makers.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out! Let’s explore how we can drive change together.

Yours in a better cacao & chocolate future,
Emily
Hello! Welcome to Uncommon Cacao,

As a specialty cacao trader, we source from 10,000+ smallholder producers across 15+ countries and supply cacao to hundreds of chocolate makers globally.

We are a certified B Corp and a Public Benefit Corporation, and I started this business out of a recognition of the responsibility and opportunity for intermediaries to decommoditize the cacao industry and do business differently.

Across Uncommon Cacao’s businesses, the company has pioneered a new cacao economy that pays farmers more and is grounded in real partnerships that deliver improved stability and success for all.

Our Transparent Trade model has been called best-in-class for transparency on farmgate pricing – we aren’t afraid to publicly disclose the prices paid across our value chain (and are still the only international cacao trader to do so after 10+ years!), with the ultimate goal of scaling a market which enables producer prosperity and provides the entrepreneurial ecosystem for producer success.

We work with all kinds of cacao buyers and chocolate makers as a problem solver and innovation partner. We promise to provide reliable quality cacao products accompanied by Transparent Trade data and stories from our cacao sourcing relationships, and to drive transformative supply chain solutions for cacao producers and chocolate makers.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out! Let’s explore how we can drive change together.

Yours in a better cacao & chocolate future,
Emily

Let us introduce ourselves...

The Uncommon Cacao Team

Emily Stone

Co-Founder/CEO

Uncommon Cacao Group

Benjamin Figarede

General Manager

Uncommon Cacao Europe

Mike Albertini

Operations & Systems Manager

Uncommon Cacao
Source + Trade

Brian Pleitez

Fulfillment & Logistics Coordinator

Uncommon Cacao

David Guendelman

CFO

Uncommon Cacao Group

Paola Millan

Financial Advisor

Uncommon Cacao Group

We are part of a larger whole

Our Key Partnerships

Collaboration is key to making large scale impact, working together we can accomplish even more systems change.

Since 2023

Board Member

Supporting Fine Chocolate Professionals

Fine Chocolate Industry Association

As a small segment of the overall global cacao and confectionary market fine (aka Craft, Premium, Bean to Bar, Specialty) chocolate has the opportunity to drive both industry and consumer perception & behavior toward more ethical, transparent and delicious outcomes. 

Uncommon Cacao CEO, Emily Stone was elected to the volunteer board in 2023 and hopes to support the industry association steward a prosperous, organized and collaborative future.   

Pictured is fermenting expert Vo Van Ban from MAROU

Learn More about the FCIA

Since 2013

B Corp Certified

Using Business for Good

B Corp

As the best network & resource library for companies that have been rigorously vetted and who are using business to create social good, Uncommon is proud of our decade of continual certification.

In 2024 we reached an all time high score of 113.4 - 62.5 points above the median average score and 33.4 points above the score necessary to certify.

Learn More about B Corp

Since 2013

ASHOKA Fellow

Everyone a Changemaker

ASHOKA

Ashoka is the largest network of leading social entrepreneurs in the world.  Uncommon CEO Emily Stone first learned about the Ashoka Fellowship in high school and was inspired by their visionary effort to contribute to impact and the resources they provided their fellows.

When Emily Stone CO-Founded Maya Mountain Cacao in 2013 she became fellow and the fellowship supported her subsequent growth of Uncommon Cacao Source + Trade through their Gloablizer Program.

Pictured producer Anqelque Jean sorting cacao pods at PISA

Learn More about Ashoka

Since 2017

SDG Focus Group

Re-Purpose Capitalism

Unreasonable Group

Uncommon Cacao CEO, Emily Stone was invited to participate as one of the first in a group of 16 startups to participate in Unreasonable Goals, a mentorship network spearheaded by the impact entrepreneurship accelerator Unreasonable Group. Focusing on the 2017 newly published Sustainability and Development Goals put forward by the United Nations.

In 2017 the focus was on growing Uncommon Cacao Source + Trade and on thinking about systems change on a global scale. Emily's participation with the Unreasonable Group project connected her with a similar community of CEOs to network & mutually support growth.

Pictured is producer Pedro Pa Beb harvesting a cacao pod at Lachuá

Learn More About Unreasonable Group

Since 2020

Collaborative Member

Reverse Climate Change

The Climate Collaborative

It is clear that business as usual needs to change in order to prevent and mitigate the impacts of human caused climate change and the resulting damage to ecosystems and to communities. Uncommon Cacao believes that the Climate Collaborative offers excellent resources & framework for companies to find their path towards future solutions.

Learn More about The Climate Collaborative

Our Uncommon Values

COURAGE

We are fearless in the face of
uncertainty, taking smart risks and bucking the status quo to improve our company and create real, systemic, positive change.

INTERDEPENDENCE

We know that We > I, and that each participant in our value chain creates a critical link regardless of where in the system they may be.

GRIT

We resolve to solve, over and over again, while finding joy in the challenge.

PASSION

We are in love with our work. We wake up each morning dedicated to improving the livelihoods, flavor profiles, and farms where the scope of our work reaches.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We are respectfully honest and authentic with our partners, our team, and ourselves, even when it’s hard.

BALANCE

We recognize that boundaries and prioritization drive sustainable team successes. We value and create time for nourishing our minds, bodies and souls.

Transparent Trade

We believe that the difference between traceability and transparency is published and verifiable data for each and every step in our supply chain.

Read the Full 2022 Report Here
Authentic relationships throughout our transparent supply chain
Reliable quality & available when you need it
Business model innovation meeting the needs of an evolving market
Industry advocates and dedicated boundary-pushers