Strategy consulting to develop and consolidate the chocolate business with AMWAE, Ecuadorian Amazon.

  • Country: Ecuador.
  • Location: Ecuadorian Amazon.
  • Duration: May to August 2019.
  • Participants: AMWAE (Association of Waorani Women of the Ecuadorian Amazon).
  • Area of specialization: Rural Market Development.

Starting point

The Ecuadorian Amazon is an area with enormous tourism potential, attracting thousands of visitors each year, drawn by its natural landscapes and cultural diversity. This area is inhabited by indigenous communities, who suffer from high poverty rates, a lack of basic services (which prevents them from receiving tourists), and low levels of human development. One of these ethnic groups is the Waorani, who, among other activities, cultivate cacao. However, they do so in unsuitable conditions and lack the necessary training.

Objective

We support the women of the Waorani indigenous community, together with AMWAE (Association of Waorani Women of the Ecuadorian Amazon), to develop and consolidate the chocolate business, improving their quality of life, that of their families and communities.

What is the project about

AMWAE has a cocoa farming business and a locally well-known chocolate brand, WAO. Through this project, consulting work is carried out, enabling:

  • The entire commercial structure, including quality, storage, and production, for chocolate, is strengthened.
  • A business plan is established to analyze the viability of the business and strategies for consolidating it, both internally (organizational structure, processes, financial controls, etc.) and externally in terms of marketing.
  • A cost and profitability study is also conducted throughout the value chain (suppliers/partners, AMWAE, manufacturing plant, distributor, etc.).

Entities that support this project