Project summary
Instead of shipping raw cashews from Africa to Asia for processing and then to Europe, Johnny Cashew keeps processing closer to origin, creating more local value, jobs and opportunities while reducing unnecessary transport. Built around five core principles — No Detour, Fair Pay, Whole Harvest, Traceability, and a Fair Future — Johnny Cashew is working to make the cashew industry more transparent, sustainable and inclusive.
By purchasing the whole harvest, including broken nuts, and ensuring farmers receive a fairer share of the value created, the company is helping strengthen local supply chains and livelihoods.
The B Corp-certified company ensures that cashews are shelled in Tanzania, close to its network of over 1,000 Fairtrade farmers. By partnering with local shelling factory Mama Cashew, it reduces unnecessary transport-related carbon emissions, creates meaningful jobs for women, and facilitates living incomes for farmers.
What started in Tanzania is now expanding into Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cashew-producing country. With support from Invest International, Johnny Cashew is developing a second origin-based supply chain that enables local processing, supports thousands of farmers, and helps meet growing demand for responsibly sourced cashews in Europe.
To support Johnny Cashew in realising its growth ambitions and multi-faceted impact mission, we provided an investment loan via the Dutch Good Growth Fund, which we manage on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Project impact
Carbon-neutral cashew chain
The company reduces cashews’ transport-related carbon footprint by 57% compared to other cashews sold in supermarkets and offsets remaining emissions.
Gender equality
The startup’s Tanzanian processing partner, Mama Cashew, provides living wages and fair working conditions to over 600 people, of whom over 500 are women.
Decent work and economic growth
Johnny Cashew pays farmers a premium to help them earn living incomes and developed a Living Income Reference Pricing model with Fairtrade and Wageningen University.
Responsible consumption and production
The company purchases whole harvests, including broken cashews that it uses in its primary product line or partner by-products such as plant-based dairy alternatives.
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Peri Bakr
Investment Manager
