KKO International

Environmental & Social Information • Jul 26, 2016

Press release Regulated information

SUCCESSFUL CERTIFICATION RAINFOREST ALLIANCE

Paris & Brussels, July 26th 2016 (5:45PM) – KKO INTERNATIONAL, a reference in innovative production of cocoa, announces its successful Rainforest Alliance certification for SOLEA plantation Kotokonou in Ivory Coast.

Since its inception, KKO INTERNATIONAL aims to produce a sustainable cocoa that meets the new quality and origin expectations of industry and increasingly demanding consumers.

After the announcement, in April, of its successful pre-audit, the company is honored today to present its Rainforest Alliance certificate issued by the agency AfriCert on July 12th for a 3 years validity period.

This certification ensures that all standards of protecting biodiversity and promoting respect for workers and local communities are well respected in Kotokonou plantation.

NGO's Rainforest Alliance Cocoa Program which applies in 64 countries, helps producers implement the standards set by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), one of the first world networks of international actors to promote sustainable agriculture.

Rémy Allemane, CEO of the production subsidiary of KKO INTERNATIONAL, SOLEA, concludes: "We are delighted to be granted this certification, devoting our efforts. I want to thank our staffs, who are fully engaged in this long process and who enabled this success. We will not stop at this first stage. Sustainable agriculture is in the core of KKO INTERNATIONAL's DNA. Since our final audit, we thus have implemented new measures for sustainable development. We are particularly committed from the beginning against child labor and for the optimization of security, two major issues in Africa. "

About KKO INTERNATIONAL

World production of cocoa, nowadays mainly small scaled, does not allow food industrials/manufacturers to be supplied with consistent quality and quantity. KKO INTERNATIONAL, pioneer in intensive agriculture, brings an ingenious solution to the growing global demand. In less than 3 years, the staffs of SOLEA, production subsidiary of KKO INTERNATIONAL based in Ivory Coast, have managed to develop innovative agricultural techniques, including a dripping irrigation system at the foot of each plant, significantly improving the production of cocoa beans. With a strong local involvement, the company is a socially responsible business model (RainForest Alliance Certification) and holds a surface of 1849 hectares including 680 hectares in operation. As Africa's largest cocoa plantation, SOLEA aims to grow 3000 hectares by the end of 2017, to produce a high quality cocoa bean year round. SOLEA is thus set to become a natural and favorite partner of the chocolate industry. www.kko-international.com

Next press release: bi-annual numbers for 2016, October 19th. 2016

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