Our story in a Nutshell
In 2019 we celebrated our 10-year anniversary.
The market
What is wrong with the cashew market?
Operating a factory in Burkina Faso comes with its challenges, but it can be done as we have shown. Unfortunately, most still prefer to export the raw material to countries where the environment to run an industrial operation is more favourable. However, this is only enabled through negative externalities that these processors do not pay for: the transport emits carbon unnecessarily and transparency of the value chain is lost. That means that in the end no one knows how sustainable the product is. The export of raw cashew nuts is also an export of jobs that would otherwise have existed if the product was processed locally. This is what we are trying to change.
Farmers
Anatrans and Burkina Faso farmers
We offer a guaranteed market with premium prices and support for the development of the cooperatives and the farming businesses that grow the cashew nuts. We only source locally; local farmers can count on us. Cooperatives that supply Anatrans are much less exposed to the volatility of the cashew markets because of it. Because we are so close and have a joint interest in seeing the local cashew value chain flourish, we invest in farmer organizations, often with the support of international donors. That contributes to farming yield increases which increases farmer revenue and allows us to supply you with even more delicious and healthy nuts with impact.
Impact
Social impact for factory workers
We employ over 2,300 factory workers of which 85% are women and 60% are illiterate. The factory provides much needed jobs in an environment where there are few. All workers receive social benefits, have access to our onsite infirmary and free pharmaceutical products. We provide a nursery for children up to age five so that young mothers can continue working. We have a make-a-wish fund in place that serves as a last resort in case of emergencies. With this fund we have recently funded cancer treatment, reconstruction of a burnt home and surgery for one of our employees’ children. All workers have had access to subsidized bicycles in 2020 and 2021. Workers are unionized and Anatrans subjects itself annually to a SMETA audit to be fully transparent on our social practices. What we are most proud of is that many of the people who have worked with us for three years or more have saved enough to launch a side-business. Many of the women working at Anatrans are entrepreneurs themselves!
