Podcast - 'Traceability and Data as Drivers of ESG Value' with Valrhona and Cœur de Lion
- Tilkal
- May 26
- 2 min read
A look back at ChangeNow 2025 and our roundtable: "Traceability and Data as Drivers of ESG Value: Insights from Valrhona and Cœur de Lion."
At a time when ESG performance is under the spotlight, one truth stands out: you can’t manage what you don’t measure. With regulatory demands evolving and sustainability expectations rising, supply chain traceability has become a strategic asset. The ability to track & analyze data across the entire value chain is now essential for ensuring regulatory compliance, ESG commitments, and consumer trust.
The session that gathered Anne-Sophie Bouladoux, Brand Leader (Coeur de Lion) and Cédric Robin, Cocoa Sourcing Manager (Valrhona) live at ChangeNow 2025, sparked an inspiring conversation on how traceability and data can deliver meaningful impact and drive long-term sustainable value.
Some key takeaways
“If we are serious about ESG, we need to have data, know where the product comes from and make known that our commitments are based on evidence.”
“Traceability is a driver of differentiation and uniqueness.”
“The importance of such an initiative is not only to ensure the traceability of cocoa but also to use it to establish financial traceability of payments to producers, to reduce delays in payment of their premiums, and thus contribute to improving their living conditions.”
“Building a traceability initiative is a gradual process—starting with a test-and-learn approach and prioritizing key data is essential to successfully achieve your initial objectives.”
“Collection, authentication, and digitalization of the first-mile data is key. To achieve this, you must understand the culture of your different supply sources and make sure you speak the same language.”
“The challenge lies in clearly articulating our needs, effectively communicating them to suppliers, and establishing a progressive approach to building trust and long-term partnerships to ensure reliable data collection.“
“Digitized and secured data enables the extraction of valuable insights, supports comprehensive supply chain monitoring, and allows for rapid response to unexpected events.”
“One internal challenge can be aligning cross-functional teams—IT, quality, marketing, supply chain, and others—around a shared objective and developing a common language to drive progress efficiently.”