In 2009, BLYSS began as a seed of change planted in the diverse landscapes of Ecuador, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. From these seeds grew a social enterprise that not only farms sustainable cacao but turns it into an award-winning premium chocolate – a delight so profound, it earned a stellar 93/100 from independent evaluators, gracing Europe with the most exquisite and priciest chocolate retailed at €30 per 50g.

Our products didn’t just capture the palates of the discerning, they captured hearts, too. BLYSS became the chosen partner chocolate for LVMH, pairing with elite whiskey and brandy, an alliance that stood strong for four luxurious years.

We’ve fortified the livelihoods of our farmers, spiking their incomes by 35% while cutting input costs – all achieved through the power of collective bargaining and the implementation of agroecological innovations that enrich both biodiversity and household well-being.

Yet, in the journey of BLYSS, we recognized that producing chocolate that sold out time and again was only a part of a much larger picture. In 2014, we established the Cacao Academy, empowering over 20,000 farmers with the knowledge to enrich biodiversity, optimize farming efficiency, and enhance post-harvest quality. It was our pivot to ensure that the transformation we envisaged was broad, deep, and lasting.

We didn’t stop at cacao. BLYSS is also about innovative strategies that spill over into wider sectors, materializing a services arm that tackles challenges head-on. From strategizing 6 years of a close to market strategy for a €6B Eco-Innovation Fund that assisted 30% of its beneficiaries in post-fund financing to spearheading research for the European Commission’s Social Economy Action Plan, our reach is vast.

We have assessed global suicide prevention tactics to fortify mental health support, sowed seeds of post-mining employment in Eastern Europe, and kindled young entrepreneurial spirits through the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy in the EU. In the cities of London, Berlin and Hamburg, our sustainability strategies have slashed plastic waste and sparked sustainable product innovation.

BLYSS today may navigate the corridors of influence, but our essence is forever intertwined with the rich earth and the hands that tend it.

Behind BLYSS GmbH stands Alyssa Jade McDonald-Baertl, a custodian of a legacy stretching three generations back into the tropics. With roots that whisper tales of the South Pacific, her leadership is a beacon of hope for climate protection and equality.

Alyssa Jade doesn’t just lead BLYSS; she serves on various mulilateral and multinational boards, tirelessly weaving sustainability and innovation into the fabric of our future.