A recent article has shed light on a chocolate company called Bantu Chocolate, which has been receiving attention in the Welsh media. The company was showcased as a Welsh business that had received a £10,000 grant, with headlines praising it as a “trailblazing Welsh chocolate company.” However, it has come to light that Bantu Chocolate is not actually a Welsh business, despite the Welsh connection to its registered office address in Bedlinog, Treharris.
The company, owned by 32-year-old Veronique Mbida, is registered in Wales but does not claim any Welsh origins or connection on its online platforms. Previous articles in the Guardian and Forbes have highlighted that the fair trade chocolate is actually produced in London, using cocoa beans sourced from Cameroon, Ms Mbida’s home country. Bantu’s Facebook page lists its location as London, and there were no indications of any Welsh ties.
The confusion seems to stem from the fact that the company’s registered office address is in Bedlinog, Treharris, where a couple of accountants, Grant and Tracey Hutton, reside. They provide administrative services for various companies, including Bantu, which explains the connection to Wales. However, Mr. Hutton clarified that Bantu is not a Welsh business and that it is associated with Wales solely because of its accountants’ location.
When approached for comment, Ms Mbida clarified that while her company is registered in Wales, she has never identified herself or her business as Welsh. She mentioned that she moves frequently due to her primary job as a brand manager and that the trading address for Bantu can vary depending on her location at any given time.
The grant to Bantu was part of a program aimed at supporting underrepresented founders, with a focus on businesses outside of London. The charity offering the grant, Hatch Enterprise, clarified that while the company is registered in Wales, it primarily operates online. The charity acknowledged the mistake in describing Bantu as a Welsh-based business and vowed to review its processes to prevent such errors in the future.
Despite the confusion surrounding its Welsh connection, Bantu Chocolate was recognised for its mission to eradicate slavery from the chocolate supply chain. The company expressed its intention to invest in website improvements, visual content, and new products to expand its reach and highlight its farm-to-table chocolate offerings.
In light of this revelation, it is evident that Bantu Chocolate, though registered in Wales, does not identify as a Welsh business and operates primarily out of London. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate reporting and the need for due diligence when portraying businesses in the media.