FAQs

No. The ACM Marketplace is not an ecommerce platform and does not enable direct purchasing or transactions. It is a discovery and decision-support tool that helps buyers identify African cocoa sellers and understand their businesses before pursuing next steps through ACM.

Unlike static directories, the ACM Marketplace is built around verified, structured information that reflects how cocoa is actually traded in Africa. Seller profiles are actively maintained and updated over time, and data is organized using ACM’s due-diligence framework to support informed sourcing decisions rather than simple listings.

ACM manages access intentionally to protect both buyers and sellers and to ensure transparency throughout the sourcing process. Direct contact outside of ACM can undermine verification, distort information, and create uneven expectations. ACM facilitates introductions and next steps when appropriate, ensuring clarity, accountability, and alignment for all parties.

A subscription provides access to the ACM Marketplace and its search functionality, allowing you to explore African cocoa sellers using structured criteria. Subscription access does not include ACM Verification reports, ACM Transparent Trade Facilitation, or ACM Assurance Add-Ons, which are offered separately.

Your subscription covers platform access only. ACM Verification Reports, ACM Transparent Trade Facilitation, and ACM Assurance Add-Ons are separate services available on request. This modular structure allows buyers to engage at the level that fits their needs.

Yes. Buyers can request ACM Verification Reports, ACM Trade Facilitation support, or ACM Assurance Add-Ons at any point after subscribing to the ACM Marketplace. ACM works with buyers on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate next steps.

Cocoa in Africa is produced by millions of smallholder farmers, but it is organized and moved to market by businesses such as cooperatives, buying groups, aggregators, and exporters. These businesses are the first structured point in the supply chain and the place where traceability, quality control, and trade terms are established. Understanding them is essential to meaningful transparency.

At ACM, transparency means providing clear, verified, and contextual information about cocoa sellers and their operations. Verification refers to ACM’s independent process of reviewing and documenting seller-provided information. Verification is not certification and does not replace third-party standards or audits.

If a seller aligns with your sourcing goals, you may request additional information, such as an ACM Verification Report (available separately), or engage ACM to support next steps through trade facilitation. ACM guides this process to ensure clarity, alignment, and responsible engagement.

The ACM Marketplace is continually evolving. Sellers are added over time, and buyer feedback helps shape future development. If you don’t immediately find what you need, ACM may be able to advise on upcoming sellers, alternative sourcing options, or additional services.

ACM is not a certification body, compliance platform, or cocoa trader. We do not certify sellers, own cocoa, or execute trades ourselves. Instead, ACM provides verified information, structured insight, and facilitation services that support informed sourcing and transparent trade.