Sisters Transform Dominican Cacao Industry with Innovative Chocolate Company
The daughters of Dominican immigrants achieved the American dream. They’re bringing sweet success back to the homeland
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
Janett and Erika Liriano, daughters of Dominican immigrants, left their successful careers in the U.S. to launch Inaru Chocolate in the Dominican Republic. Their company aims to empower local farmers by paying fair prices and producing high-quality chocolate, bridging the gap between farmers and the global market.
- 01Janett and Erika Liriano transitioned from corporate jobs in the U.S. to start Inaru Chocolate in the Dominican Republic.
- 02Inaru Chocolate is the country's first vertically integrated cacao company, ensuring fair compensation for farmers.
- 03The company pays farmers 30-50% more than typical buyers, promoting sustainable practices and higher-quality cacao.
- 04Inaru has raised $12 million in funding and supplies high-end brands like the W Hotel.
- 05The sisters' venture has created 35 jobs and strengthened their connection to their Dominican heritage.
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Janett and Erika Liriano, daughters of Dominican immigrants, have successfully transitioned from corporate careers in the U.S. to founding Inaru Chocolate in the Dominican Republic. Inspired by their parents' stories of hardship, the sisters launched the country’s first vertically integrated cacao company, which directly contracts with farmers and pays them 30-50% more than traditional buyers. This model not only promotes fair compensation but also encourages sustainable farming practices. Inaru Chocolate, which has raised $12 million in funding, produces high-quality chocolate that sells to brands like the W Hotel, with a focus on transparency and quality. The company has also created 35 jobs, allowing the sisters to reconnect with their roots while making a positive impact on their parents' homeland. Their journey highlights the potential of Dominican cacao, which produces 60% of the world’s organic cacao, yet historically has seen little profit retained within the country.
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Inaru Chocolate's fair compensation model not only improves the livelihoods of local farmers but also fosters sustainable agricultural practices, benefiting the environment and the economy of the Dominican Republic.
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