What Menakao brings to Madagascar

MENA means red in Malagasy. Red like the colour of our cocoa land, rich in mineral sediments deposited by our Sambirano river, red like the tones of the colour of our chocolate. Red like Red island, the island of Madagascar.

KAO for cocoa. Everyone knows of the quality of the Malagasy cocoa beans, which received the quality label “fine cocoa” by ICCO (UK) because it is completely aromatic, has floral aromas, a perfect acidity and its long lasting finish.

We selected Millot plantation, planteur since over a century. We are buying superior washed cocoa N10. For Menakao we choose the best.

We are not using any vanilla beans in our chocolate to allow the real aromas of the cocoa to bloom. Vanilla might be using as an ingredient, for example in our 44 % milk chocolate with Vanilla. Our line is 100 % truly Madagascar, all ingredients, including our packaging, comes from Madagascar.

Our Fair Trade approach.Madagascar produces 4500 tons yearly. We buy our regular cocoa 0.50 € /kg over the market price and the premium quality between 1.50 € and 1.80 € per kilo, much more than the Fair Trade standard. The small quantity produced, allows the farmers to ferment 5 to 6 days using ancestral methods. The majority of the cocoa is exported; producing in Madagascar generates 4 times more incomes. We built a chocolaterie, we hired some staff. Our staff works in a highly secured environment, with air conditioning. They have modern dressing rooms with hot showers. All our staff is paid minimum 10 % over the minimum wage and much more for the technicians. We organized free transportation back and forth to work and they have a free meal for lunch. Most important all our employees are affiliated to the social security and have a retirement plan. All these advantages represent 50 % saving on their monthly pay.