Today, we visited Sibo Chocolate, Riverside Pizzeria and Gastropub, and a local university to learn about medical device production. This day was my favorite so far because of our first stop, Sibo. Sibo Chocolate was founded in 2007 and was one of the first companies to fully produce chocolate in Costa Rica. During our visit, one of the founders, Julio, talked us through the history of chocolate and their company while we tasted different truffles. He explained to us the different methods of production and inspiration behind each of the chocolates. For example, we tasted one that had a ginger, coconut caramel inside, representing flavors from cultures that have come to Costa Rica. As Julio was talking, we learned more and more about how Sibo’s mission is to follow the triple bottom line, offering a sustainable business that gives back to society.
Julio clearly outlined how Sibo follows this model by explaining that all of their business decisions follow a “win, win, win” method for everyone involved, including local farmers, employees, and himself. For example, he pays higher prices for good cacao to produce high quality chocolate (bringing in more customers) and support local farmers. He explained that they prioritize quality over quantity in their products , different from bigger companies like Hershey’s that have worse tasting candy. Being from Hershey, that was a punch to the gut, but it helped me realize how Sibo stands out from other companies. They have a special dedication to delivering only the highest quality to their customers and keeping their business within Costa Rica by resisting foreign investors. However, there are fallbacks to this method. Julio explained this by saying that their production will never be big due to the inefficiency of producing without a big factory. This means the sacrifice of company attention and profits.
Despite this, Sibo is an example of a successful business that maintains the triple bottom line of sustainability and a community-first mission. It sells high-quality products that keep customers coming back and reduces harm to the environment. It is one of the many businesses that I’ve seen in Costa Rica that has a good balance between profit and community.