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About Tony’s Chocolonely
Unless you have an unfortunate allergy to cocoa, chocolate is something most of us love. Whether you like it made with milk, nuts, caramel, or just plain dark, there’s a chocolate out there for everyone. However, this delectable confection that we take for granted isn’t always made through ethical means.
If you’re looking for tasty chocolate that’s making a difference in the industry, you’ll want to give this Tony’s Chocolonely review a read.
Tony’s Chocolonely is a confectionary company looking to improve the way chocolate is produced. The brand refer to themselves as an “impact company,” whose mission is to create positive change in the West African chocolate industry and influence the way other chocolate companies do business.
The brand sells ethically produced chocolate to people across the globe, while working with non-profit organizations and other partners to end the use of child labour in the West African chocolate industry and help cocoa farmers earn a fair wage. As their motto says, Tony’s is “Crazy about chocolate, serious about people.”
Since their inception, this brand has garnered a huge following of chocolate lovers and activists alike. The brand’s Instagram account has about 34k followers, while their Facebook page comes in at an impressive total of over 134k followers. Tony’s has also been featured in Sustainable Brands, New York Post, and Confectionary News.
Want to learn more about the chocolate that’s making a major change in how we snack? My Tony’s Chocolonely review will take you on a journey through the brand’s history, policies, best-selling products, and customer feedback, to learn more about their unique sweet treats.
Overview of Tony’s Chocolonely
Tony’s Chocolonely isn’t the only ethical chocolate producer on the market. But unlike many other companies, who started out making chocolate for profit and attempted to make a positive impact on the world later, Tony’s approached the issue in reverse.
It all began in the early 2000s, when investigative journalist Teun van de Keuken was looking into the process of chocolate production for the Dutch TV show Keuringsdienst van Waarde.
What he found was that the cocoa farmers in West Africa, who van de Keuken says provide the major chocolate and candy companies with around 60% of the world’s cocoa, have been subjected to horrific conditions. He found farmers living in poverty, not getting a fair trade for their product, and found that unpaid child labour was being used.
In his investigation, van de Keuken says he saw little being done to improve conditions for farmers and their families, and that the industry was in a vicious cycle of using unethical practices to keep prices low and profits high.
That’s why van de Keuken founded Tony’s Chocolonely in 2005 – as a way to show the world that slave-free chocolate is not only possible but should have always been the standard for the industry.
Yes, Tony’s makes chocolate bars, but they got into the business in an attempt to change the industry via leading by example.
While van de Keuken is no longer running the show from the company headquarters in Pazzanistraat, Netherlands, the dedicated team currently behind Tony’s has continued to work at their goal of making all chocolate slave-free and Fairtrade.
The company’s philosophy, which has guided their business since inception, is broken up into 5 major components:
- All cocoa beans used must be traceable to their source
- Ingredients are bought at higher prices to ensure the farmers are properly compensated with a stable living income
- Long-standing business relationships are fostered with these farmers
- Helping those farmers have access to resources to improve their production, both in terms of ethical efficiency and environmental impact
- Support both farmers and the communities they live and work in
Tony’s Chocolonely is working with the goal of applying these principles to their business, and making them transparent and accessible to the industry overall.
They even have a special certification, Tony’s Open Chain, that other companies can participate in to show they’re following the 5-step philosophy and making a difference. Plenty of smaller companies are already onboard.
Tony’s also demonstrates how slave-free chocolate can be adopted by the industry through their Sweet Solutions Bars – which are essentially Tony’s renditions on popular chocolate bars, but produced in an ethical manner.
The Tony’s Chocolonely team also puts together a yearly report of the industry and their impact on it, along with posting news about fair chocolate production on their website, to help their supporters keep up with the mission.
Want to know more about the company’s practices and products? Before this Tony’s Chocolonely review digs in for a closer look at their products, check out the highlights of shopping with the brand:
Highlights
- Ethically produced chocolate – slave-free and Fairtrade
- Transparent business practices intended to inspire change in the chocolate industry
- Great variety of flavors
- Packaging made from recycled materials
- Ships internationally
- Great customer reviews
Tony’s Chocolonely Review
Tony’s wears their message on their sleeve – or rather, on their bar.
Their familiar wrappers bring back the nostalgic Americana aesthetic of a carnival candy. Inside, their chocolate bars are segmented into unequal pieces, a deliberate design reflecting how unequal the cocoa trade is.
This fusion of classic candy aesthetics with a conscious core perfectly encapsulates the Tony’s Chocolonely product – a product on a mission to prove that delicious, familiar, satisfying chocolate can be made in a fair and equal way.
While the brand has a broad selection of products, my Tony’s Chocolonely review will focus on their best-selling classics: Milk Chocolate 32%, Milk Caramel Sea Salt 32%, Milk Honey Almond Nougat 32%, Milk Hazelnut 32%, Dark Almond Sea Salt 51%, and the Rainbow Tasting Pack.
Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Chocolate 32% Review
Whether your treat of choice is the occasional Hershey’s bar or if you have a Friday night ritual of snacking on a pack of M&M’s at the movie theater, few chocolate flavors are as well-known or well-loved as the classic milk chocolate.
This common yet delicious flavor is what kicks off a lifelong love of chocolate for many of us, so it’s only natural that Tony’s Chocolonely’s first product, launched back in 2005 and immediately recognizable for its bright red wrapper, was their take on this classic.
Tony’s Chocolonely’s Milk Chocolate 32% bar is an excellent introduction to the Tony’s brand. This 6.35 oz bar is sweet and dairy-rich, demonstrating just how well Tony’s can make classic, comforting chocolate.
The Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Chocolate 32% is made from a mixture of dry whole milk, cocoa butter and mass, soy lecithin and sugar. Both their cocoa and their sugar is Fairtrade-sourced.
With all of Tony’s Chocolonely’s milk chocolate products, this product contains milk so it’s not suitable for those looking to avoid animal products.
All of Tony’s products may also contain traces of eggs, nuts, wheat, and dairy, so those with allergies or concerns about animal products will want to check the ingredients list and be aware.
Pick up a bar of Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Chocolate 32% for just $6.
Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Sea Salt 32% Review
When you think of a fairground, what foods come to your mind? Perhaps it’s caramel corn, salt water taffy, or some other sweet and salty treat that makes you nostalgic for ferris wheels and summer nights.
If you’re a caramel connoisseur or salt lover, you’ll find the same nostalgic comfort of your favorite fair treats in the Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Sea Salt 32% bar.
Wrapped in a bright orange package inspired by the star ingredient, this bar is made of the same chocolate base as their Milk Chocolate 32% bar, but has the addition of caramel chunks and large sea salt flakes.
This 6.35 oz bar is perfect if you want to bring back your own cherished memories or help introduce your young ones to a treasured flavor from your own childhood..
Treat yourself to Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Sea Salt 32% for $6.
Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Honey Almond Nougat 32% Review
The best milk chocolate is known for combining smooth, creamy texture with a milky-sweet flavor. But if you’re looking for something even sweeter without venturing over into white chocolate, Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Honey Almond Nougat 32% bar has you covered!
Combining the sticky, earthy goodness of honey with a nutty undertone, the Milk Honey Almond Nougat 32% bar wraps pieces of almond nougat candy in their delicious milk chocolate.
This chocolate shares a base with their Milk Chocolate 32% bar, and their nougat is made from Fairtrade cane sugar, wheat syrup, potato starch, cocoa butter, egg whites and, you of course, honey and almonds.
It’s 6.35 oz of deliciousness with enough rich, sugary flavor and chew to sate any sweet tooth.
Pick up the Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Honey Almond Nougat 32% in its iconic yellow packaging for $6.
Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Hazelnut 32% Review
Are you one of those people who just can’t seem to get enough Nutella? If you’re ready to move beyond the jar, or if you’re just looking for more nuttiness with your chocolate, say hello to the Milk Hazelnut 32% bar.
Sold in a rich dark green wrapper, this 6.35 oz milk chocolate bar is molded around whole hazelnuts. It’s an excellent choice for those who love major nutty flavor or enjoy a good crunch when biting into a candy bar.
The hazelnuts in this bar are also shaped to reflect the map of West Africa, a special detail honoring the land and people producing Tony’s chocolate.
Pick up the Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Hazelnut 32% for $6.
Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Almond Sea Salt 51% Review
Whether it’s a winter holiday, a declaration of love in February, or a spring celebration with lots of bunnies and eggs, there are instances when some of us like to feel all fancy and buy a big variety box of chocolates.
While some folks will fight over the caramel center, some know the real MVP of the assortment is dark chocolate, with that rich, bitter cocoa flavor that makes anything it’s paired with sing.
If you’re looking for more of that lovely taste in a 6.35 oz portion size, look no further than the Dark Almond Sea Salt 51% bar.
Here, Tony’s pairs their dark chocolate, with its rich but not-too-bitter 51% cocoa content, with simple almonds and sea salt flakes. It’s complex and sophisticated, but the smooth flavor and subtle bitterness also make it a great introduction to high-quality dark chocolate.
It still uses Fairtrade cocoa and sugar, but doesn’t contain any milk, so it’s suitable for vegans (though Tony’s does caution it may contain traces of eggs and milk from the production process).
If you’re up for a taste of this dark side, try the Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Almond Sea Salt 51% for $6.
Tony’s Chocolonely Rainbow Tasting Pack Review
Fighting temptation and only committing to one type of chocolate bar can feel impossible to a cocoa lover. A midday snack craving might call for something sweet and crunchy, but an after-dinner craving might demand something bold and bitter.
If you want to try Tony’s Chocolonely but don’t want to limit yourself to just one flavor, their Rainbow Tasting Pack lets you enjoy six great barsin a single box.
Inside you’ll find six 1.8 oz bars, a smaller version of each of the best-selling bars featured in this Tony’s Chocolonely review, plus their pure Dark Chocolate 70% bar.
The Rainbow Tasting Pack delivers a full spectrum of milky, sweet, salty, nutty, bitter, and very bitter. Enjoy it as a taste test for yourself, or share with a group of friends who are as unique in their chocolate preferences as these bars.
Ready to start sampling? Pick up the Tony’s Chocolonely Rainbow Tasting Pack for the very reasonable price of $13.
Who Is Tony’s Chocolonely For?
Tony’s Chocolonely is a brand made for chocolate lovers.Their product tastes great and their selection has a wide variety of flavor combinations to satisfy all sorts of chocolate fans.
Plus, each flavor you’ve seen in this Tony’s Chocolonely review comes in a 6.35 oz and 1.8 oz size, so even if you’re trying to limit your sweet treats, there’s a bar you can enjoy in their rainbow of deliciousness.
Tony’s Chocolonely is also great for those who share in the brand’s support of sustainability and Fairtrade, slave-free chocolate. You can buy a bar to support the cause, or you can also use the unequal pieces of the bars to help teach others about it. Plus, how often is it that you get an edible visual statement to enjoy and make you think?
What Is Unique About Tony’s Chocolonely?
As I’d mentioned in our overview of Tony’s Chocolonely, this brand comes at chocolate manufacturing from a unique place.
Calling themselves an “impact company” rather than a chocolate company means the brand prioritizes making a difference in how chocolate is made, rather than considering themselves a chocolate company that incidentally uses fair labour practices and ethical ingredients.
Unlike chocolate companies that only focus on making product for profits, this company makes a great product to prove success doesn’t have to come at the expense of people or our environment – a unique approach in their industry.
This iimpact company not only makes tasty treats, but also takes care of the people who make them possible and shows other companies how they can do the same.
Tony’s Chocolonely Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
For this Tony’s Chocolonely review I took a look at what customers have been saying about online, to get a sense of what real chocolate fans think of this trailblazing brand.
The brand doesn’t share reviews on their official site, so I checked out Amazon, where some of the brand’s products are sold. Despite a few reviewers having issues with bars arriving melted or complaints about the pricetag, plenty of others reviewing Tony’s Chocolonely have great things to say about the brand.
Buyers of the the Milk Chocolate 32% bars enjoy the taste and slavery-free approach to production. One customer says: “Yes this chocolate is expensive but it’s slave free, each chocolate bar has some weight to it and again the best chocolate I’ve ever had.”
For this Tony’s Chocolonely review I also noted that their best-sellers have high Amazon star ratings:
- Milk Chocolate 32% – 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 117 reviews
- Milk Caramel Seas Salt 32% – 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 65 reviews
- Milk Hazelnut 32% – 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 76 reviews
- Dark Almond Sea Salt 51% – 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 69 reviews
- Rainbow Tasting Pack – 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 110 reviews
The brand also has some customer reviews on TrustPilot, where they have a collective rating of 3.1 out of 5. Customers generally enjoyed the taste, with a few reviews mentioning that the salty options were too salty for their tastes – which is a selling point for other palates!
Tony’s Chocolonely reviews on TrustPilot also suggest the brand has excellent customer service, with one reviewer saying, “I had an issue with one of the bars I bought, so contacted their customer service. Kate from their care team responded really quickly, with a friendly and personalised email (not an annoying template response like you get with some large companies). They sent me a replacement within a few days and a little extra too.”
There’s also something to be said for how well these bars are changing our outlook on the chocolate industry.
One reviewer of the Milk Caramel Sea Salt 32% bar on food retail site Naturamarket says: “It’s super High quality chocolate, and we love that it’s touted as being “slave free” which has made us rethink the chocolate industry.”
Star ratings of the best-sellers featured in this Tony’s Chocolonely review at Naturamarket are also promisingly high:
- Milk Chocolate 32% – 5 out of 5 stars based on 40 reviews
- Milk Caramel Seas Salt 32% – 5 out of 5 stars based on 65 reviews
- Milk Hazelnut 32% – 5 out of 5 stars based on 37 reviews
- Milk Honey Almond Nougat 32% – 5 out of 5 stars based on 21 reviews
- Dark Almond Sea Salt 51% – 5 out of 5 stars based on 32 reviews
- Rainbow Tasting Pack – 5 out of 5 stars based on 8 reviews
Is Tony’s Chocolonely Worth It?
Writing this Tony’s Chocolonely review, I noticed that the price may put some people off of buying this brand, but it’s also part of the cost of doing business ethically. That price supports a good cause while also satisfying your sweet tooth.
Considering everything I’ve touched on in this Tony’s Chocolonely review, I’d have to say this brand is absolutely worth it! It’s slave-free, Fairtrade, high-quality, and comes in a variety of mouth-watering flavors.
Tony’s Chocolonely Promotions & Discounts
If you’re looking for a discount code in this Tony’s Chocolonely review, your best bet is to become what the brand calls “serious friends” of the brand by joining the e-newsletter.
You can also get free shipping on US orders over $20.
Where to Buy Tony’s Chocolonely
Aside from their official website and two physical stores in the Netherlands, you can find the items in this Tony’s Chocolonely review at Amazon, Naturamarket, and Hive Brands.
FAQ
Who owns Tony’s Chocolonely?
The key shareholders are founder Teun van de Keuken and CEO Henk Beltman.
Is Tony’s Chocolonely vegan?
Several of Tony’s Chocolonely products are vegan, though all of their products have a disclaimer that they may have come into contact with dairy and eggs. They have a Vegan Bundle for those of you who need a dark chocolate fix without the other stuff.
Does Tony’s Chocolonely ship internationally?
Yes, Tony’s ships to a variety of destinations from country-specific websites. To shop from your local store, click the dropdown Choose Your Country menu at the top right of the screen.
The regional sites allow for easy online shopping for several European countries, Japan, and the US, but Tony’s may be able to ship elsewhere – contact [email protected] for more information.
What is Tony’s Chocolonely’s Shipping Policy?
Shipping costs will vary based on region, order weight, and the number of items. These costs will show up at checkout. Shipping in the US is free for orders over $20.
Once you have paid for your order, you’ll receive a confirmation email. It normally takes about 5 working days for orders to be delivered. However, delays may happen that extend the delivery time.
What is Tony’s Chocolonely’s Return Policy?
All sales are final and no returns are accepted. However, you can still contact Tony’s customer service for help if you are unsatisfied or have problems with your order.
How to Contact Tony’s Chocolonely
If you want to ask more questions after reading this Tony’s Chocolonely review, here’s how you can get in touch:
- Phone: 503 388 5990
- Email: [email protected]
- US Office Address: 450 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York NY 10013
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