*4.2. Raw Material Import*

An import company (Company B) transports the cocoa beans on container ships from South America to Europe. The import company is specialized in fair and ecological trading. When selecting raw materials, the import company places great emphasis on sustainability and tries to enforce these claims on the suppliers.

The basis of the cooperation between the cooperative and the import company is a signed contract, which includes social and environmental aspects (e.g., exclusion of pesticides during cultivation, and fair wages). The contract does not include quantities and prices and is negotiated in personal meetings. Further, the raw material importer requires social and environmental certificates (e.g., EU organic logo or Fair Choice certificate) from its suppliers: "You cannot market a product as organic if it is not certified [ . . . ]" (IP2).

Company B supports its partners' sustainability efforts using informal mechanisms such as frequent information exchange and trust-based partnerships. The employees seek face-to-face interaction with suppliers and sub-suppliers through regular site visits. Some employees are even stationed in the farming areas and carry out regular audits as part of the supplier selection and development process: "We visit them [new suppliers] to hear and to see what their goals are, what they want. Because then I see, we are in the same track." (IP2). During the visits, a lively exchange of information on sustainabilityrelated topics is possible. For example, the raw material import company can pass on the increasingly important sustainability requirements of the customers (e.g., call for water resource conservation) to allow the farmers to react to these requirements. On the other hand, the actors can exchange information on acute challenges in cocoa cultivation and discuss how, for example, fertilizers can be used as sustainably as possible, which has an impact on ecological (soil conservation) and social sustainability (e.g., less contact of employees with fertilizers that are harmful to health).

The import company also tries to build close relationships with customers. The company records the sustainability wishes and needs of the downstream stages and passes them on to the raw material production. The expert sees the company in the role of a mediator and would like to connect all parties of the supply chain so that an exchange of communication occurs in the whole supply chain: "I think all the partners are interested in having a strong relationship." (IP2).
