Eagle PR launches “Chocolate Without Chains” campaign for Tony’s Chocolonely

Eagle PR held various events in November to promote Tony’s Chocolonely’s ethical chocolate with a mission to trace, sustain and collaborate for a fairer cocoa industry.

EDMOND, Okla. — Oklahoma Christian University’s student-led public relations firm Eagle PR launched its newest initiative, the “Chocolate Without Chains” campaign to promote Tony’s Chocolonely. The group’s goal is to increase awareness of Tony’s Chocolonely on the Oklahoma Christian campus and encourage their peers to support fair labor practices. 

Tony’s Chocolonely, founded in 2005 by Dutch journalist Teun van de Keuken, or “Tony,” is a leading ethical chocolate brand dedicated to transforming the cocoa industry by addressing forced and child labor in chocolate production. The company prioritizes tracing its sourcing practices, building a sustainable future and collaborating with farmers to fight for fair labor and equitable pay. 

The “Chocolate Without Chains” campaign draws attention to the core values Tony’s has embedded in its practices: trace, sustain and collaborate. These principles guide the company’s efforts to ensure traceable cocoa beans, support sustainable farming practices and build long-term, fair partnerships with local farmers, primarily in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Eagle PR hosted several events in November as part of the campaign to encourage OC students to support the Chocolate without Chains campaign. Nov. 11-15, Eagle PR hosted a scavenger hunt in the Garvey Center, inviting participants to uncover facts about Tony’s Chocolonely and its impact on ethical chocolate production. Informational tables were available in the Student Center on Nov. 1, Nov. 5 and Nov. 8 from 11:20 a.m. to 1 p.m. to further educate and engage the public.

“As one of the few chocolate brands advocating for transparent and ethical sourcing, Tony’s Chocolonely is a trailblazer in bridging the gap between fair trade ideals and real-world impact,” said  Eagle PR Co-Director Thokozani Fuller said. “Our goal with this campaign is to educate and engage our community on the importance of supporting brands that prioritize people over profit.”

Eagle PR’s adviser, Associate Professor of Communication Josh Watson, has enjoyed seeing the group’s students conduct all facets of a public relations campaign. 

“These students are learning first-hand how difficult and fulfilling campaign work is,” Watson said. “From quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation, to message development, planning for in-person events, media relations and social media promotion, this campaign has stretched the team. The creativity and commitment shown by each team member has been impressive. I think more OC students will now reevaluate how they purchase chocolate and the impact their decisions have around the world.” 

For more information about Tony’s Chocolonely and its mission to bring ethics to every bar, visit Eagle PR’s campaign website at unwrapthestory.com. The OC community is also encouraged to follow Eagle PR’s social media for campaign updates on Instagram and Facebook, To learn more about Tony’s Chocolonely, visit the website here. 

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