03/10/25
ECOM and Lindt & Sprüngli Inaugurate New School in Côte d’Ivoire
At ZAMACOM, ECOM’s operation in Côte d’Ivoire, improving the living conditions of farming communities remains one of the key pillars of our sustainability strategy. We achieve this objective by identifying the needs of the communities we work in and addressing them with our clients through our jointly designed sustainability programs.
One such need emerged in Zeaglo, a community located around 570 km from Abidjan and home to members of the Tarwindpanga cooperative affiliated with our client, Lindt & Sprüngli. Previously, children attended classes in makeshift shelters that served as the site for the Zeaglo 2 Public School.
Through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farmers Program, implemented by ZAMACOM, a new school building has now been completed — featuring six fully furnished classrooms equipped with desks, benches, blackboards, teachers’ desks, and storage cabinets. The facility also includes a headteacher’s office and six toilets for pupils.
In addition, the school now benefits from a solar-powered borehole, providing reliable access to clean drinking water for students and staff.
The official inauguration ceremony took place on September 18, 2025, attended by the Sub-Prefect of the area, representatives from the Regional Department of National Education, village leaders, cooperative executives, farmers, and members of the community.
To further support education in Zeaglo, the ECOM Foundation donated school textbooks, teaching materials, and sports equipment — resources that will help strengthen literacy, encourage learning, and support the creation of a school library.
The handover of this new facility marks an important milestone in improving educational access within the Zeaglo community. The school now provides a safe and conducive learning environment for 240 children, helping to reduce child labour risks while supporting their development and future opportunities.

More news
News
Click to read this articleAcquistion of Universal Commodities (Tea) Trading, Inc. to the ECOM Group
We are pleased to announce that Universal Commodities (Tea) Trading (UCTT), will be joining the ECOM Group, marking an important step in expanding its global soft commodities platform and establishing its presence in the tea sector.
News
Click to read this articleSilent Brew, Strong Voices Project Updates
Following the SCTA Next Gen's Sustainability Award for our project 'Silent Brew, Strong Voices', we're proud to share an update on the impact this project is having in Pu'er, China.
News
Click to read this articleShaping a more resilient future for U.S. Cotton – 2026 ACSA Annual Convention
ECOM recently participated in the 2026 American Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA) Annual Convention, one of the U.S. cotton industry's key annual gatherings.
News
Click to read this article2025 Cocoa Sustainability Report
We are pleased to share the release of our 2025 Cocoa Sustainability Report, highlighting the progress made across cocoa supply chain over the past year.
News
Click to read this articleECOM and Nestlé inaugurate two new schools in Ghana
We recently partnered with Nestlé to inaugurate two new schools in the Adarkwa and Akroma communities in Ghana, as part of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan. The new schools aim to improve access to quality education and create safer, more supportive learning environments for children in cocoa-growing communities.
News
Click to read this articleECOM Village Brussels
ECOM Village was pleased to return to the World of Coffee, which took place in Brussels last month.
News
Click to read this articleCocoa Week 2026
Last month, during London Cocoa Week, ECOM had the pleasure of hosting a drinks reception at the Tower of London, bringing together colleagues, partners, and industry peers for an evening of connection and exchange.
News
Click to read this articleConnecting through coffee: A dialogue between Vietnam and China
The 2nd Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Coffee Week was recently held in Lijiang, China, bringing together coffee professionals, industry experts, cultural envoys, and tourism delegates from Vietnam and China. The event created a platform for exchange between two important Asian coffee origins, highlighting coffee’s role not only as a traded commodity, but also as a bridge for cultural dialogue, technical knowledge-sharing, and regional collaboration.
News
Click to read this articleA week of collaboration and exchange between South American cocoa origins
ECOM managers from Peru and Ecuador recently came together in Mexico for a week focused on strengthening collaboration, sharing knowledge, and continuing to support the development of ECOM’s coffee and cocoa operations across the region.