Darrell Lea
Partly verifiedDarrell Lea raises serious concerns: workers in the countries chocolate & cocoa usually comes from, such as Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are very unlikely to earn a living wage, and unions and workers' rights are heavily restricted in the countries chocolate & cocoa usually comes from, such as Ecuador and Cameroon, with no independent audits.
Last researched 7 October 2026
Not doing enough. Workers in the supply chain are likely underpaid, unprotected or in danger, and in the worst cases face forced or child labour. Look for a better-graded alternative. What this grade means
Good: 1 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 1 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 2
- Does not pay a living wage
- Hidden or unaudited supply chain (no certification or documentation, or major production in countries with poor worker rights without independent audits)
Where it's made: not disclosed
Showing where chocolate & cocoa products are usually made instead.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Côte d'Ivoire 45% | Regular violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Ghana 25% | Some 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 | High |
| Indonesia 5% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- 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.
- Modern slavery statement
- Invests in worker and farming communities
Darrell Lea makes its products in Sydney and says that since 2018 all of its cocoa has been sourced sustainably through Barry Callebaut's Cocoa Horizons programme, which includes child labour monitoring and community funding paid for by a premium. It does not disclose which countries its cocoa comes from, how much of the cocoa is traced to farms, or any child labour cases found, and it does not carry Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification. The brand is not rated on the Chocolate Scorecard; its owner RiteBite Group lodges an Australian modern slavery statement that names cocoa as a child labour risk.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Scorecard | Not listed | Darrell Lea is not rated in the 2025 Chocolate Scorecard. View ↗ |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Found | Owner RiteBite Group lodges a modern slavery statement covering Darrell Lea, naming cocoa as a child labour risk. View ↗ |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Unclear | Cocoa from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana is listed for child labour, but Darrell Lea does not disclose its cocoa origins. View ↗ |
| Wikidata | Unclear | Not checked; ownership confirmed from other sources. View ↗ |
Sources (7)
- Darrell Lea: Cocoa Horizons · archived copy · 100% of cocoa sourced sustainably via the Cocoa Horizons Foundation since 2018; premium funds farmer training, women's empowerment, education and water; origins not given
- RiteBite Group Modern Slavery Statement (FY2024) · archived copy · Darrell Lea is RiteBite Group's largest brand; cocoa via Cocoa Horizons with child labour monitoring; over 600 staff across AU, NZ and US; no cases reported; origins not identified
- Shop Ethical (ethical.org.au): Darrell Lea · archived copy · 85% owned by Rite Bite Group (owned by Quadrant Private Equity), 15% by Quinn Foods; cocoa via Barry Callebaut's Cocoa Horizons
- Darrell Lea (Wikipedia) · archived copy · Based and manufacturing in Ingleburn, Sydney; acquired by Quadrant Private Equity in 2018
- Stop The Traffik Australia welcome Darrell Lea announcement (Uniting Church, 2018) · archived copy · In 2018, after a nine-year campaign, Darrell Lea committed to slavery-free, 100% sustainable cocoa
- 2025 Chocolate Scorecard companies · archived copy · Darrell Lea does not appear in the 2025 Chocolate Scorecard
- US DOL List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (cocoa) · archived copy · Cocoa from Côte d'Ivoire listed for child and forced labour; Ghana for child labour
Last researched 7 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.