Giving Tuesday

The Story Behind Our Giving Tuesday Partnership 

For the second year in a row, Recchiuti Confections is proud to sponsor Askinosie’s Chocolate University, a program based around allowing American students to explore the cacao economy and the nuances of  direct trade dynamics. Students from Southwest Missouri travel to the Kyela region of Tanzania, becoming immersed in the complex world of cacao trade, forming mutually beneficial relationships with the local farmers and workers from across the in depth process. 

In an industry with often obfuscated supply chains, allowing this type of hands on interaction is a powerful tool towards improving clarity for all parties involved. In this regard, Ashkinosie and Recchiuti  are complimentary organizations, with a shared community driven approach (and two titular creative  directors). Shawn Askinosie founded his company in 2006, after leaving his successful career as a criminal defense lawyer. His dedication to ethics and fair business dealings inspired his project’s 100%  sourcing directly from farmers, and his journey has found him travelling to the regions where he sources  his cacao in an effort to educate the farmers on the intricacies of the industry’s finances. 

Recchiuti Confections supports this ethos of transparency and commitment to education, all the while  producing and improving on a delicious product. In years prior, the Chocolate University participants have worked to develop a sustainable lunch program, video learning classes, and local student support  groups. Chocolate University embodies the open hearted values we’ve come to expect from Askinosie, setting the standard for current cacao dealings and preparing a class of students who will grow to determine our industry’s shared future. 

This Giving Tuesday, 5% of all sales will be donated to the Askinosie Foundation.