In a country responsible for producing nearly half of the world’s cocoa, Suzanne Kabani is part of a growing movement determined to change the narrative around African cocoa.
For decades, Côte d’Ivoire has been recognised globally as one of the world’s largest cocoa producers, supplying the raw ingredient behind some of the biggest international chocolate brands. Yet much of the value creation, luxury branding and manufacturing has historically taken place elsewhere, in Europe and North America, where processing, branding and retailing concentrate the majority of the industry’s financial returns.
Through her company, Les Douceurs de Suzanne, she is helping shift that story from raw export to refined creation.
An entrepreneur and master chocolatier with more than two decades of experience, she has built her business around the idea that Côte d’Ivoire should not only be known for producing cocoa, but for transforming it into premium products that reflect the country’s culture, craftsmanship and identity. Inside her atelier, beans sourced from different growing regions are carefully transformed through artisanal methods into handcrafted collections that celebrate flavour, heritage and authenticity, each region lending its own character to the finished product.
Her approach directly challenges the traditional model of African commodity export. Through a philosophy of “Made in Côte d’Ivoire,” Les Douceurs de Suzanne demonstrates that African businesses can produce premium goods that compete in quality, sophistication and storytelling on the global stage.
The business also places strong emphasis on sustainability and local empowerment. By working closely with farmers, artisans and communities, Suzanne strengthens local production networks while supporting skills development across the cocoa value chain, a commitment that resonates as consumers worldwide place growing value on ethical sourcing, traceability and authenticity.
Building a premium artisanal chocolate business in Africa comes with its own realities, of course. Manufacturing is capital intensive, educating local consumers about bean-to-bar chocolate and premium pricing is an ongoing process, and competing against established international imports requires consistent investment in brand identity.
Yet Suzanne has continued 
to carve out a distinctive space through products that blend gastronomy, creativity and African cultural influence.
Her collections are not simply confectionery. Each piece is an expression of place and identity: of Côte d’Ivoire’s land, its people and its potential.
For Suzanne, chocolate is a statement about craftsmanship, ownership and possibility. And through every carefully crafted piece, she is proving that Côte d’Ivoire’s future in cocoa may ultimately lie not only in the beans it exports, but in the brands it builds.
