Puratos is just as committed to people as it is to the environment, which is why we promise to do all we can to help those in the communities we work with. From sharing our knowledge and skills with those less fortunate than ourselves, to investing in sustainability programs that safeguard biodiversity and improve the living conditions of local people. With this in mind, Puratos launched two foundations in 2016.
Bakery School Foundation
The Bakery School Foundation was established to provide quality education to underprivileged youngsters in developing countries.
When Puratos began operating in India, we noticed many children on the streets. They were young, with little hope for the future. Their parents earned minimal wages and could not invest in their children’s education. At the same time, it was becoming increasingly difficult for us to find qualified technical advisors—a struggle we shared with our customers, also facing a severe shortage of skilled Bakers, Patissiers and Chocolatiers.
That’s how the idea for our Bakery School took shape, and only a few years later, in 2014, the very first school opened in Mumbai in collaboration with the Bakery School Foundation. This was followed by many others, including Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Romania, and the Philippines.
Our courses are designed to take pupils beyond basic education and give them the practical training they need to earn a decent living wage. The program includes internships at different companies, where students are paid.
We’re also committed to employing graduates at our subsidiary companies based on merit and achievement, or alternatively, help them find work with our customers. By 2030, we hope to help 1000 young people from developing countries to realise their passion at one of our schools.
Next Generation Cacao Foundation
The Next Generation Cacao Foundation is designed to contribute to the social, economic, and environmental development of cocoa farming communities involved in the Cacao-Trace™ program. It is the not-for-profit organization that aims to improve the standard of living for cacao farmers, making sure they receive a fair share of the value generated in the chocolate supply chain. The Foundation achieves this by distributing the “Chocolate Bonus”, a premium that the Cacao-Trace customers are paying.
The foundation operates as a vehicle to collect and allocate the chocolate bonus: 100% of the amounts collected are reaching the farmers. All the running costs are covered by Belcolade.
