Alter Eco
A fair-trade and organic food brand that developed from a French alternative-trading organization into a multinational chocolate-focused business.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Alter Eco is the name used for a group of related fair-trade food organizations that originated in France and later expanded through North American and Australian operations. The French organization was founded in 1998 by Tristan Lecomte and developed a broad portfolio of responsibly sourced foods, including coffee, tea, rice, sugar, quinoa, chocolate, olive oil, juice and cotton products. Its model combined organic or responsible production with fair-trade sourcing and distribution through mainstream French retailers such as Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Monoprix, Cora, Match and Système U. The North American business was established by Mathieu Senard and Edouard Rollet. Although the organization was started in 2003, its first products reached the United States and Canadian markets in 2005. The North American company was based in San Francisco and concentrated increasingly on chocolate and chocolate-centered snacks. Alter Eco Pacific, founded in Australia by Ilse Keijzer in 2005, was based in Melbourne and supplied Australia and New Zealand before being acquired by the North American company in 2015. Alter Eco's product strategy changed over time. The original French business promoted a wide range of fair-trade commodities, while the North American operation eventually narrowed its focus toward chocolate and quinoa. Its chocolate products are positioned around organic ingredients, non-GMO verification, fair-trade sourcing and, in some cases, vegan formulations. The range has included chocolate bars, truffles and dark-chocolate coconut clusters. Products are manufactured in Switzerland, while ingredients are sourced through international producer and farming networks. Sustainability is central to the brand's identity. Alter Eco has emphasized traceability, organic agriculture, farmer relationships, lower-impact ingredients and packaging innovation. Its stated approach includes selecting clean ingredients, avoiding or replacing problematic inputs such as palm oil, and working with producers on improved cultivation methods. In the United States, the company became a certified B Corporation in 2009 and a Delaware public benefit corporation in 2013, formalizing a governance structure intended to account for social and environmental objectives alongside commercial performance. The business adopted a refreshed visual identity and the motto "Enlightened Indulgence" in 2017. In December of that year, it was acquired by NextWorld Evergreen, a San Francisco private-equity firm focused on purpose-oriented consumer brands. Mike Forbes was appointed chief executive officer in October 2018, while Mathieu Senard and Edouard Rollet continued to be identified with the company as co-founders. Alter Eco remains associated primarily with organic and fair-trade chocolate in North America, while the wider Alter Eco name also retains its historical connection to the French fair-trade food organization and its broader product assortment.
History
Alter Eco refers to related alternative-trading organizations operating in France, North America and Australia. The first organization was founded in France in 1998 by Tristan Lecomte. Alter Eco France built its identity around fair trade and responsible food, distributing products through major French mass retailers. By 2007, the French business was reported to offer more than 100 products sourced from 42 cooperatives in 37 countries. Its range included coffee, tea, rice, sugar, quinoa, chocolate, olive oil, juice and cotton products. European products were associated with either FLO-CERT and the International Fairtrade Certification Mark or Fair for Life certification administered through Ecocert. A notable early initiative took place in 2006, when Alter Eco France worked with Brazilian retailers to sell Brazilian products domestically under fair-trade conditions. This was presented as a South-South fair-trade experiment because it involved producers and consumers in the Global South rather than following the more familiar model of exporting products from developing countries to wealthy markets. The North American organization was started in San Francisco in 2003 by Mathieu Senard and Edouard Rollet. Its first products entered the United States and Canadian markets in 2005. Over time, this business concentrated less on the broad commodity assortment associated with the French organization and more on chocolate and quinoa. The North American portfolio came to include organic, non-GMO and fair-trade chocolate bars and truffles, with some vegan products. Chocolate manufacturing was located in Switzerland. The company also developed snack products, including chocolate-covered or chocolate-centered coconut clusters. Alter Eco Pacific was established in Melbourne, Australia, by Ilse Keijzer in 2005. It supplied Australia and New Zealand and was later acquired by Alter Eco North America in 2015. This acquisition connected the North American business with the Australian and New Zealand markets under a larger Alter Eco structure. The North American organization formalized its social-purpose orientation in stages. It became a certified B Corporation in 2009 and became one of the early registered public benefit corporations in Delaware in 2013. These developments complemented its consumer-facing sustainability claims, which emphasized organic and non-GMO ingredients, supply-chain traceability, producer relationships and efforts to replace less sustainable inputs. The company has described its sustainability model as a four-part approach centered on cleaner ingredients, improved farming practices, traceability and more responsible materials. Coconut oil was used in place of palm oil in products where the company considered that substitution preferable. In 2016, Alter Eco began publishing a Social Impact Report. That year its Dark Blackout chocolate bar and compostable quinoa-pouch packaging received industry recognition. In 2017, the company refreshed its branding, changing its logo and packaging and introducing the phrase "Enlightened Indulgence." It was also acquired in December 2017 by NextWorld Evergreen, a San Francisco private-equity firm focused on purpose-driven brands. Mike Forbes became CEO in October 2018, while Senard and Rollet remained associated with the company as co-founders. The company expanded its snack offering in 2018 with Coconut Clusters, launched in multiple flavors and presented at the Natural Products Expo. The product line received attention as a vegan packaged-food launch. By the 2020s, Alter Eco was primarily recognized in North America for organic and fair-trade chocolate, truffles, coconut snacks and quinoa, while the historical French organization remained associated with a wider fair-trade food assortment. In 2022, Alter Eco ranked second in the Chocolate Scorecard, reflecting its comparatively strong assessment in areas such as cocoa transparency, farmer livelihoods, labor standards, deforestation and agroforestry.
- 2022
Second place in the Chocolate Scorecard
[2]Alter Eco ranked second in the Chocolate Scorecard's assessment of social and environmental performance in cocoa and chocolate.
- 2018
Coconut Clusters launch and CEO appointment
[1]Alter Eco launched Coconut Clusters and appointed Mike Forbes as CEO in October.
- 2017
Rebrand and NextWorld Evergreen acquisition
[1]The company refreshed its brand identity and adopted the motto "Enlightened Indulgence." NextWorld Evergreen acquired the business in December.
- 2016
Social Impact Report and sustainability recognition
[1]Alter Eco began publishing a Social Impact Report and received recognition for its Dark Blackout bar and compostable quinoa packaging.
- 2015
Alter Eco Pacific joins the North American company
[1]Alter Eco North America acquired the Australian organization, extending its corporate reach across Australia and New Zealand.
- 2013
Public benefit corporation registration
[1]Alter Eco became one of the early companies registered as a Delaware public benefit corporation.
- 2009
B Corporation certification
[1]The North American company became a certified B Corporation.
- 2007
French range exceeds 100 products
[1]The French organization was reported to offer more than 100 fair-trade products sourced from 42 cooperatives in 37 countries.
- 2006
South-South fair-trade experiment begins
[1]Alter Eco France worked with Brazilian retailers to market Brazilian products in Brazil under fair-trade terms.
- 2005
North American products reach consumers
[1]Alter Eco began selling products in the United States and Canada. Alter Eco Pacific was also founded in Melbourne by Ilse Keijzer.
Products and positioning
Organic and fair-trade food with an emphasis on producer relationships, traceability, regenerative or lower-impact agriculture, responsible ingredients and sustainable packaging.
Chocolate
Chocolate bars
Alter Eco's core North American range consists of organic, non-GMO and fair-trade chocolate bars, with some vegan formulations. The portfolio has included dark-chocolate products ranging from conventional dark profiles to very high-cacao options such as Dark Blackout and Super Blackout. The bars are manufactured in Switzerland and are marketed as indulgent products linked to traceable cocoa and the brand's sustainability commitments.
Chocolate confectionery
Chocolate truffles
The truffle range extends the brand's chocolate proposition into filled and bite-sized confectionery. Reported flavors include Classic Dark, Sea Salt, Salted Caramel, Mint Crème and Silk Velvet. The products are positioned around organic and fair-trade sourcing, with selected varieties also suitable for vegan consumers.
Chocolate snacks · 2018
Coconut Clusters
Coconut Clusters marked Alter Eco's move into a more explicit snacking format. The line was introduced in 2018 in Original, Seeds and Salt, and Cherry and Almond Butter variants. It was presented as a vegan product launch and combines coconut-based texture with the company's chocolate-centered confectionery positioning.
Grains and seeds
Organic quinoa
Quinoa formed an important part of Alter Eco's expansion beyond chocolate and reflected the company's interest in organic staple foods and producer-linked sourcing. The product has also been associated with compostable packaging innovation and the brand's wider efforts to connect everyday foods with fair-trade and environmental claims.
Packaged food · 1998
Fair-trade food assortment
Alter Eco France historically offered a broad range of fair-trade and responsible foods, including coffee, tea, rice, sugar, chocolate, olive oil and juice, as well as cotton products. This assortment was distributed through French mass retailers and was sourced through international cooperatives under recognized fair-trade certification systems.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Enlightened Indulgence rebrand
United States · Canada · Australia · New Zealand
Alter Eco updated its logo and packaging and introduced the motto "Enlightened Indulgence," linking pleasure-oriented chocolate consumption with organic, fair-trade and environmental commitments.
Outcome. The rebrand accompanied a strategic emphasis on chocolate and chocolate-centered snacks.
- 2006Brazil South-South Fair Trade Initiative
Brazil · France
Alter Eco France worked with Brazilian retailers to sell Brazilian products in Brazil under fair-trade terms. The initiative broadened the conventional fair-trade model by connecting producers and consumers within the Global South.
Outcome. It was described as the first South-South fair-trade experiment associated with Alter Eco.
Brand decisions
2018
Enter the snack category with Coconut ClustersProduct launchBackground
The North American business was focusing its portfolio around chocolate and quinoa while seeking additional growth formats.
Action taken
Alter Eco launched Coconut Clusters in multiple flavors at the Natural Products Expo.
Aftermath
The launch broadened the company from bars and truffles into chocolate-centered snack products and received recognition as a notable vegan new product.
2017
NextWorld Evergreen acquisitionM&ABackground
Alter Eco operated as a purpose-driven consumer-food company focused increasingly on chocolate and related snacks.
Action taken
NextWorld Evergreen acquired Alter Eco in December 2017.
Aftermath
The company continued operating under the Alter Eco brand with its sustainability-oriented positioning.
2015
Acquire Alter Eco PacificM&ABackground
The North American operation sought to consolidate the Alter Eco presence in the Australia and New Zealand markets.
Action taken
Alter Eco North America acquired Alter Eco Pacific.
Aftermath
The Melbourne-based business became part of the larger North American Alter Eco organization.
2013
Register as a public benefit corporationStrategyBackground
Alter Eco wanted its corporate structure to recognize public-purpose considerations in addition to commercial objectives.
Action taken
The company became one of the early Delaware public benefit corporations.
Aftermath
The registration gave legal form to the company's purpose-oriented governance narrative.
2009
Adopt B Corporation certificationStrategyBackground
The North American company sought a formal framework for its social and environmental commitments.
Action taken
Alter Eco became a certified B Corporation.
Aftermath
The certification reinforced the company's purpose-led positioning and sustainability claims.
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