Guylian
Chocolate makers
Bought by Japanese owned Lotte Group in 2008.

Overall

Owned KOR
Rating F
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Chocolaterie Guylian NV
BEL
Lotte Wellfood Co Ltd
owns 100% of Chocolaterie Guylian NV
KOR
Confectionery maker
Korea's #1 confectioner. They bought Belgian chocolate makers Guylian in 2008. In 2020 Lotte Confectionery and Lotte Food merged, and rebranded to Lotte Wellfood in 2023.
Lotte Corporation
owns 100% of Lotte Wellfood Co Ltd
KOR
Conglomerate
South Korea's fifth largest conglomerate. Interests include confectionery, retail, sports, restaurants, soft drinks and ice cream manufacturing, leisure and entertainment venues, magazine publishing, and real estate.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Aug 2024)
Chocolaterie Guylian NV
No assessment data currently available for Chocolaterie Guylian NV.
Lotte Wellfood Co Ltd
Praise
CDP Climate Change score of B
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of B.
Source: CDP (2023)
Criticism
Palm oil scorecard - WWF
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2021 assesses 227 companies on the actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company is rated 'lagging behind' with a score of 1 out of a possible total of 24.
Chocolate scorecard
Be Slavery Free's 2024 Chocolate Scorecard rates all the major chocolate companies on their labour and environmental policies and practices. Companies were asked questions in six areas: traceability and transparency; living income; child labor; deforestation and climate; agroforestry; and pesticides. This company received a red rating: "Trailing in policy and practice".
Palm oil rating - WAZA
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Poor" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA (2023)
Lotte Corporation
Criticism
13.3% in Forest 500 Rankings
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 13.3%.
Investing in single-use plastic waste
This company is the world's 30th largest equity owner of companies producing single-use plastic waste, according to Minderoo Foundation's 2021 Plastic Waste Makers Index. Institutional asset managers and global banks are providing billions of dollars to companies that produce polymers from fossil fuels, as much as 100 times more than they provide to companies trying to shift to a circular economy. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest, most urgent threats facing our planet and our health.
5/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 5/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
22/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 22/100 in the Industrial Conglomerates category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
13.3% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #198/350, with a total score of 13.3/100.
12.9% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #456/816, with a total score of 12.9/100.
Information
Most controversial companies of 2016
This company appeared eighth on RepRisk's top ten "Most Controversial Companies of 2016". Companies on the list were severely criticised during 2016 by the world's media, governments and NGOs. Criticisms of Lotte include corruption, bribery, extortion and money laundering; fraud; tax evasion; and anti-competitive practices. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
0.0% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company's Lotte Shopping subsidiary received a score of 0/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
World Cocoa Foundation member
This company is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an international membership organization representing more than 100 member companies across the cocoa value chain. WCF is committed to creating a sustainable cocoa economy through economic & social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.
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Company Details

Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue:
80 million EUR (2016)
Employees:
250 (2016)

Contact Details

Address:
Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
Website:
www.guylian.be

Products / Brands

Guylian / Stuart Alexander (distribution & marketing)
Guylian Chocolate