The world’s best chocolate is made from the world’s best ingredients. As a master chocolatier and a Swiss grand cru pioneer, using fresh, natural cacao of outstanding quality is our top priority. That’s why we promote sustainable and responsible production, right from where the whole process begins – with the people who grow the fine cacao. We ensure fair working conditions and are committed to improving cacao farmers’ quality of life.

Professional healthcare in the countries of origin of grand cru chocolate

Access to basic medical care is often difficult in the rural cacao growing areas, and the costs can threaten the livelihood of farming families. By funding health insurance premiums and covering additional treatments and medicines, we help cacao farmers and their families access professional healthcare in four of our Grand Cru countries of origin.

All four projects are tailored to the medical needs of cacao farmers in each country. Find out more about the projects in Madagascar, Ghana, Venezuela and Ecuador here.

  

Venezuela

Venezuela

In Sur del Lago, Venezuela, we are ensuring that cacao farming families have uninterrupted access to important medication.

Salud sur del Lago

Ecuador

Ecuador

In Ecuador, Sprüngli has been supporting the cacao farmers who grow fine Arriba cacao in the Esmeraldas region.

Salud Esmeraldas

Ghana

Ghana

In the Suhum region of Ghana, we cover healthcare costs for the farmers who supply our fine Forastero cacao.

Akwaaba

Madagascar

Madagascar

In the Sambirano River valley in Madagascar, Sprüngli helped set up a healthcare project that is now self-sufficient.

Salama Mateza

 

Madagascar

Madagascar

Find out more about the project Salama Mateza in Madagascar. 

About the project

Ghana

Ghana

Find out more about the project Akwaaba in Ghana.

About the project

Venezuela

Venezuela

Find out more about the project Salud sur del Lago in Venezuela.

About the project

Ecuador

Ecuador

Find out more about the project Salud Esmeraldas in Ecuador.

About the project

     

    All the projects are collaborations with Sprüngli’s long-standing partner Max Felchlin AG. The German social enterprise Elucid GmbH is handling the local development work as well as the technical implementation of the insurance and project certificates and payments. Through Elucid, Sprüngli can monitor the measurable successes of the projects and report them transparently.

      

     

    Long-standing partnership with Max Felchlin AG

    Long-standing partnership with Max Felchlin AG

    Max Felchlin AG in Ibach-Schwyz is a long-standing partner of and supplier to Sprüngli. Felchlin procures the raw materials directly from selected cacao cooperatives in line with FAIR DIRECT CACAO principles and ensures the fine cacao beans meet the high quality standards and ethical principles of Confiserie Sprüngli.

    Promoting sustainability with Sprüngli shopping bags

    Promoting sustainability with Sprüngli shopping bags

    Sprüngli has been charging a symbolic price of 10 centimes for every shopping bag since 2020. With this initiative, Sprüngli hopes to contribute to more conscious use of natural resources and is also donating all of the proceeds fully to our social projects in Ghana, Ecuador and Venezuela.

     

     

     

    Find out more about how we are committed to sustainability in individual areas

    Raw materials

    Raw materials

    We choose to use our raw materials responsibly.

    Find out more

    Value chain

    Value chain

    We are committed to long-term, sustainable business practices, and we also require this from our partners.

    Find out more

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sprüngli takes responsibility.

    Find out more

     

     

     

     

    Sprüngli obtains the fine aromatic Arriba cacao for its Grand Cru Esmeraldas chocolate from the Esmeraldas province of Ecuador. The farmers plant the cacao fruit in dense rainforest in accordance with strict sustainability criteria and pick it carefully by hand. Sprüngli is willing to pay fair prices above the market rate for the high quality of the beans. The family-run company is also actively committed to helping cacao farmers and their families access healthcare.

    Salud Esmeraldas – health insurance for cacao farmers

    To help improve healthcare and the financial situation for cacao farming families, Sprüngli is covering the costs of health insurance contributions for over 400 families from the Esmeraldas region. Their treatment is also covered in the event of acute illnesses or accidents. Sprüngli also covers the healthcare costs for pregnant women as well as postnatal care for mother and child.

    tabelle akwaaba oktober 2023 en

    In autumn 2023, work began on registering all farmers and local health centres for the project in Esmeraldas. The ‘Salud Esmeraldas’ project will begin operating in January 2024 and farmers will be able to use their insurance certificate to claim treatments free of charge. We will then begin reporting regularly on the project’s progress and results here and on our social media channels.

     

    Grand Cru Esmeraldas made from flavourful Arriba cacao

    The province of Esmeraldas in Ecuador is the original source of the aromatic Arriba cacao beans. The fine cacao feels very much at home in hot, humid areas and needs plenty of shade as well as rain. Sprüngli turns the Arriba beans into exclusive chocolate indulgence – an intense taste with coffee and prune flavours and slight, floral note of cassis.

    Find out more

     

    Healthcare for cacao farmers

    Healthcare for cacao farmers

    Sprüngli is involved in the provision of professional healthcare in various countries where its grand cru cacao originates. Find out more about all our projects in Madagascar, Ghana, Ecuador and Venezuela here.

    View all projects

     

    Find out more about how we are improving sustainability in specific areas

    Raw materials

    Raw materials

    We choose to use our raw materials responsibly.

    Find out more

    Value chain

    Value chain

    We are committed to long-term, sustainable business practices, and we also require this from our partners.

    Find out more

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sprüngli takes responsibility.

    Find out more

     

     

     

     

    The region of Sur del Lago in the lowlands of Maracaibo in Venezuela is renowned for its long history of cacao farming; nowadays, it is considered to be the original home of the cacao tree. On higher grounds, cacao farmers cultivate one of the best and rarest cacao varieties – Criollo cacao. Sprüngli is willing to pay fair prices above the market rate for the careful and sustainable cultivation and outstanding quality of the cacao. The family-run company is also actively committed to improving quality of life and healthcare for cacao farmers and their families.

     Salud sur del Lago – professional healthcare for cacao farmers

    Due to the political and economic situation in Venezuela, healthcare in the country is often insufficient. There is frequently a lack of medical professionals, medicines and equipment. With the ‘Salud sur del Lago’ project, Sprüngli is supporting healthcare for cacao farmers who plant the beans for its Grand Cru Maracaibo chocolate. This ensures that farmers and their families get free access to all essential medicines according to the WHO. At the same time, as part of the project, an international NGO helps secure the supply of the necessary medicines in the region.

    tabelle akwaaba oktober 2023 en

    In autumn 2023, work began on registering all farmers and local health centres for the project in Sur del Lago. The ‘Salud sur del Lago’ project will begin operating in January 2024. We will then begin reporting regularly on the project’s progress and results here and on our social media channels.

     

    Grand Cru Maracaibo from the finest Criollo cacao

    The rare and exquisite Criollo cacao bean from Maracaibo is cultivated in the hilly areas at the foot of the Andes and is one of the world’s finest cacao varieties. With masterful skill and passion, we turn these into the finest Grand Cru chocolate indulgence characterised by a subtle bitterness, perfect melting properties and an elegant, balanced flavour laced with mild coffee notes and a hint of orange blossom and plum.

    Find out more

    Healthcare for cacao farmers

    Healthcare for cacao farmers

    Sprüngli is involved in the provision of professional healthcare in various countries where its grand cru cacao originates. Find out more about all our projects in Madagascar, Ghana, Ecuador and Venezuela here.

    View all projects

     

     

    Find out more about how we are improving sustainability in specific areas

    Raw materials

    Raw materials

    We choose to use our raw materials responsibly.

    Find out more

    Value chain

    Value chain

    We are committed to long-term, sustainable business practices, and we also require this from our partners.

    Find out more

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sprüngli takes responsibility.

    Find out more

     

     

     

     

    Sprüngli supports cacao farming families who supply the organically grown fine Forastero cacao bean in the Suhum region of Ghana. The cacao farmers plant the cacao fruit in accordance with strict sustainability criteria and pick it carefully by hand. We are prepared to pay fair prices above the market rate in order to create the finest grand cru chocolate from top-quality cacao.

    With the Akwaaba project, we are translating our commitment to sustainability into quality of life for the cacao farmers.

     Akwaaba – health insurance for cacao farmers

    Akwaaba means ‘welcome’ in one of the languages spoken locally. To help improve healthcare and the financial situation for cacao farming families, Sprüngli is covering the costs of health insurance contributions for over 300 families from the Ghanaian village of Achiansah and other communities in the Suhum region. Doing so guarantees that more than 1,000 people receive access to professional primary healthcare. The Emergency Fund also ensures they have full cover if they contract life-threatening diseases or suffer an accident.

    You can keep up to date with the project’s progress here and on Instagram@confiseriespruengli.

    akwaaba dashboard nov 2022 en

      

    Forastero cacao beans from Suhum, Ghana

    With masterful skill and passion, highly aromatic Forastero cacao beans from Suhum – the first organic cacao-farming region in Ghana – are turned into true chocolate indulgence, characterised by a subtle bitterness, perfect melting properties and a wonderful, balanced flavour, with a fruity pineapple note and delicate malt flavour. Cacao flavour that lingers for true connoisseurs.

    Discover more

    Healthcare for cacao farmers

    Healthcare for cacao farmers

    Sprüngli is involved in the provision of professional healthcare in various countries where its grand cru cacao originates. Find out more about all our projects in Madagascar, Ghana, Ecuador and Venezuela here.

    View all projects

     

     

    Find out more about how we are improving sustainability in specific areas

    Raw materials

    Raw materials

    We choose to use our raw materials responsibly.

    Find out more

    Value chain

    Value chain

    We are committed to long-term, sustainable business practices, and we also require this from our partners.

    Find out more

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sustainability manifesto

    Sprüngli takes responsibility.

    Find out more

     

     

     

     

    Grand Cru Bâtons

    Fine vegan chocolate with cacao juice

    As pioneers of grand cru chocolate in Switzerland, we turn the finest varieties of cacao beans from world-class growing regions, along with their naturally sweet cacao juice, into melt-in-the-mouth grand cru creations. We’d now like to introduce our new vegan grand cru pralines in the shape of bâtons. Like with our Grand Cru Absolu chocolate, which is made entirely from cacao fruit, we use the naturally sweet juice that comes from the white pulp of the cacao fruit to make our Grand Cru Bâtons. Combined with carefully selected fine cacao beans from Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia, the result is innovative, vegan and naturally sweet chocolate indulgence.

    grand cru batons 1160x640

     

    Grand Cru Bâtons – vegan pralines with natural cacao juice

    Grand Cru Bâtons – vegan pralines with natural cacao juice

    Handmade pralines made from three different varieties of fine grand cru cacao, combined with the naturally sweet juice of the cacao fruit. The bâtons captivate the senses with their wonderful melting properties and natural sweetness. From balanced notes of coffee and plum, powerful notes of coffee and liquorice through to citrusy and intense chocolate flavours – each of the three bâtons has a unique taste that incorporates the naturally sweet juice of the cacao fruit. For melt-in-the-mouth, vegan chocolate indulgence.

    Available now at our retail stores and in our onlineshop.

    To the onlineshop

     

    Grand cru chocolate of world-class origin

    With these three fine chocolate bâtons, we are inviting our customers on a culinary journey of discovery to South America – the place of origin for our carefully selected varieties of cacao. The essence of the bâtons is the fresh, naturally sweet juice that comes from the white pulp of the cacao bean, making these pralines part of Sprüngli’s tradition of innovative grand cru creations. The 2020 launch of the world first ‘Grand Cru Absolu’, an intense chocolate experience made from the entire cacao fruit, was a milestone that saw us use the valuable juice of the cacao fruit for the first time. Since then, we have been using it to create pure chocolate indulgence in the form of vegan truffles, a few of our iconic Luxemburgerli and, most recently, our new Grand Cru Bâtons.

     

    weihnachten 1160x640 oh du d

     

    1. Grand Cru Maracaibo 65% - Venezuela

    Bâtons with a ganache made from Grand Cru Maracaibo 65%. This variety of fine cacao comes from Venezuela and features an elegant, intense cacao flavour, with balanced notes of coffee and plum. It is combined with naturally sweet cacao juice and coated in exquisite dark Grand Cru Maracaibo chocolate. Low in sugar and vegan.

    2. Grand Cru Arriba 72% - Ecuador

    Bâtons with a ganache made from Grand Cru Arriba 72%, a variety of fine cacao from Ecuador with powerful notes of coffee and liquorice, and a balanced fruit acidity. It is also combined with naturally sweet cacao juice and coated in exquisite Grand Cru Arriba chocolate. Low in sugar and vegan.

    3. Grand Cru Absolu 78% - Bolivia

    Bâtons with a ganache made from Grand Cru Absolu 78%. This fine chocolate from Bolivia is characterised by its citrusy and intense chocolate flavour. These bâtons are also combined with naturally sweet cacao juice and coated in exquisite Grand Cru Absolu chocolate. Low in sugar and vegan.

    100% cacao fruit

    100% cacao fruit

    To Sprüngli, responsibility means using natural ingredients from sustainable sources, and processing these with care to guarantee exquisite quality. Using the entire cacao fruit ensures a careful and sustainable approach to the environment and allows the cacao farmers to create added value.
    Learn more about the selection of fine cocoa from our longstanding Swiss Partner Max Felchlin AG. Find further information about the used cocoa fruit juice at Koa Switzerland GmbH.  

    The journey of the cocoa

    Pure enjoyment in Haute Chocolaterie

    Pure enjoyment in Haute Chocolaterie

    Creating pure enjoyment out of these high-quality ingredients is what distinguishes the traditional craftsmanship of a Haut Chocolatier such as Sprüngli. Working with these exquisite ingredients for Grand Cru Absolu – the subdued bitterness, perfect melting properties and unmistakably intense flavour – requires expertise and passion. With this creation, Sprüngli invites all chocolate lovers and connoisseurs to discover a new dimension to chocolate, and as pioneers of the new Grand Cru Absolu, to celebrate a journey into the world of a Haut Chocolatier with delicate dark chocolate truffles and unique Luxemburgerli.

    The confectioner's craft

     

     

    • You have any questions?

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