As consumers we believe the end product we buy has found its place into the marketplace legally and generally as ethical as we are. Recently a book called Bitter Chocolate by Carol Off published by Random House, 2006 was read. The book tells both a history of the chocolate companies who supply us with delicious chocolate and about the sourcing of the beans. At one time the beans came from Latin America (think Columbus discovering America) later it was realized the plant would grow in Africa. Similar to all companies who wish a diversity of suppliers having both locations is a very good solution and does not mean reliance on the commodity markets. In terms of the people who harvest the plant or the subcontractors, unfortunately the story of very poorly or almost slave wages is a continuing theme throughout the history of people enjoying chocolate.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, if you keep your focus on the companies at the end of the food chain and on the positive aspects of the product, keep your readings on Hershey, Mars, Nestle, Rowntree and others is the way to go. In many industries they rely on subcontractors who rely on subcontractors, and the division of resources gets smaller. Near the top of the group is where the profit margins are consistently higher and that is where your investment dollars should go.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions