Arnott's
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
Sydney biscuit maker whose brands include Tim Tam and Shapes.
We couldn't confirm where Arnott's gets most of its cocoa.
Also worth knowing
Most cocoa is grown in countries such as Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, where workers are very unlikely to earn a living wage.
Better-graded chocolate
Graded higher than Arnott's, selling the same kinds of things.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Arnott's? Send a right of reply.
Compare Arnott's with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where cocoa is usually grown: worker rights are poorly protected in Ecuador, Cameroon and Nigeria.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: Finds and fixes child labour on cocoa farms (Fairtrade, Fair for Life or its own published monitoring), and traces other high-risk ingredients (palm oil) where they're a major part of its range
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Arnott's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
- A product carrying the Fairtrade mark: Good
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where its cocoa is grown
We couldn't confirm where Arnott's gets most of its cocoa, so this shows where cocoa is usually grown.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Côte d'Ivoire | 45% | Regular violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Ghana | 25% | Strong protections | Well below a living wage | Low |
| Ecuador | 10% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Cameroon | 10% | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Nigeria | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: an estimated 1.5 million children work on cocoa farms in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, and most cocoa farmers earn well below a living income. Source
- Modern slavery statement
- It doesn't show that it checks cocoa farms for child labour and fixes what it finds.
- Traces or certifies most but not all of its palm oil. That doesn't count against it for Good, but the "Open supply chain" star needs all of it traced, certified or upcycled.
Research notes Arnott's makes its biscuits in its own bakeries in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide and in Indonesia and Malaysia. Only 16% of the cocoa in its biscuits was Rainforest Alliance certified in 2025, and its Australian cocoa comes as processed liquor from Asia with no farm origins disclosed; it plans to switch to Cargill's own Cocoa Promise programme. Over 90% of its Australian and New Zealand palm oil is RSPO segregated from peninsular Malaysia. It publishes no supplier list or living income commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | The Arnott's Group lodges annual modern slavery statements; the latest covers the year to August 2025. View |
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | Arnott's biscuits do not carry Fairtrade cocoa; its 2010-2012 Fairtrade cocoa agreement has ended and 16% of cocoa is Rainforest Alliance certified. View |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Listed | Cocoa from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire is listed for child labour and palm oil from Malaysia for forced labour. View |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- In 2018 a union alleged that Arnott's used coercion when it cut about 300 workers, including union leaders, at its Bekasi bakery in Indonesia; Arnott's said 10 of 320 affected staff disputed the process and joined government mediation (BHRRC, 2018). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Arnott's Indonesia & Campbell Soup Company response (BHRRC, 2018) · search the archive · 2018 report of coerced dismissal of 300 workers and union leaders at Arnott's Indonesia; company says 10 of 320 dispute it
- US DOL List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor · search the archive · Cocoa from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire listed for child labour; Malaysian palm oil for forced labour.
- Could Mondelēz finally get its hands on Tim Tam? (ConfectioneryNews, 2026) · search the archive · Owned by KKR since 2019; Sydney HQ; Tim Tam its best-known brand.
- Australian Snack Company Agrees to Source Ethical Cocoa (2010) · search the archive · 2010 World Vision campaign; Arnott's committed to Fairtrade West African cocoa until 2012.
Published by Arnott's or its owner
- The Arnott's Group Modern Slavery Statement FY2025 · search the archive · 3,800+ staff; bakeries in AU, ID, MY; 16% RA cocoa; cocoa liquor from Asia; Cargill Cocoa Promise; >90% ANZ palm oil RSPO segregated from Malaysia.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 3,800
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Arnott's ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/arnotts, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Arnott's.