Alliances & Partners
Walking together to transform Bicol's cacao landscape
At Alea, we know we can't transform the cacao and café landscape alone. We stand on the shoulders of farmers, public servants, advocates, and institutions who believe, like we do, that Bicol and Philippine cacao deserve the spotlight.
Below are some of the organizations and individuals walking with us on this journey.
Bobby Anderson
Bobby Anderson builds financially and ecologically sound businesses. He is the founder and director of Banyan Roots, an integrated sustainable ecotourism and agroforestry business on 6 acres restored in the Daichi no Saisei earthworks method in Yakushima, Japan.
This includes Banyan Kitchen, a restaurant/gallery/event space serving locally sourced, organic, fair trade foods with international inspiration; Banyan Nest, winner of the 2025 NY Architectural Design Award and the 2024 IDA Design award, designed by Tsukasa Ono; and Banyan Horizon, designed by award-winning architect Tomonari Waku and Wakuworks.
Banyan Roots partners with local organic farmers, producers, and artists to showcase local creativity, and partners with smallholder coffee farmers in East Timor and Northwest Thailand to serve the finest coffee in southern Japan. Banyan Roots proudly uses Alea products.
Bobby has also worked in international development for 25 years, including management of agriculture projects in Indonesia, Myanmar, Solomon Islands and elsewhere, helping farmers access more ecologically sound extension services and support, and connecting them to markets. This includes cacao.
Bobby and Alea founder Kae studied together at the National University of Singapore in 2015-16 and Bobby has worked to support Kae since she launched Alea in 2021.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been one of Alea's earliest and most consistent champions in the MSME space. Through its programs for product development, market access, and entrepreneur support, DTI has helped us sharpen our branding, improve our packaging, and reach new customers here and abroad.
With DTI's mentorship and participation in trade fairs and exhibits, Alea is better equipped to bring Bicol cacao and healthier chocolate products to more Filipino families and international buyers.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is at the heart of our farm story. As cacao growers, we rely on DA's technical guidance, training, and farm-level interventions to continuously improve our practices — from seedling selection and farm management, to post-harvest handling.
DA's support helps ensure that the cacao we use for our tsokolate, cakes, and baked products is rooted in healthy soil, sustainable practices, and farmer dignity.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has been instrumental in strengthening Alea's backbone: our production, quality, and innovation.
Through technology support, advisory, and productivity-enhancing interventions, DOST helps us improve our processes, explore better equipment, and maintain consistent quality and food safety. This partnership allows us to proudly say that Alea products are not only heartfelt and homegrown, but also guided by science, research, and continuous improvement.
APCIA is one of our key allies in the organized cacao community, bringing together stakeholders who care about the growth and professionalization of the cacao value chain.
By collaborating with APCIA, Alea contributes to and benefits from shared learnings, industry coordination, and advocacy efforts that uplift cacao farmers, processors, and brands. Together, we work to ensure that cacao from our region is recognized not just for its flavor, but for the people and communities behind it.
These are some of the hands behind every cup of tsokolate, every slice of cake, every bar of chocolate.
Production & Quality
Ohma
Master RoasterOhma is our Master Roaster, the one who listens to the beans. From the first crack of cacao in the roaster to the final cool-down, she makes sure every batch hits the right balance of aroma, color, and flavor. Her work is quiet and precise, but you taste it in every cup of tsokolate and in every bite of our cacao-based desserts.
Lanie
Production AssociateLanie is a Production Associate who helps turn raw ingredients into finished products ready for the café counter and for shipping. She measures, mixes, portions, and packs with care, following our nutritionist's standards and production SOPs. For Lanie, each tray, bar, and pack is a small promise to the customer: consistent, clean, and made with intention.
Rita
Quality Assurance LeadRita leads Quality at Alea. She oversees checks at every stage — from incoming raw materials to finished cakes, drinks, and cacao products leaving our doors. Her role is to ask the hard questions: Is this safe? Is this up to Alea's standards? Would we serve this to our own family? Only when the answer is "yes" does it pass.
Grace
Quality AssuranceGrace supports our Quality team, focusing on day-to-day checks that keep our café and production safe and consistent. She helps monitor cleanliness, proper handling, labeling, and shelf-life tracking. Grace is one of the quiet guardians of Alea — making sure that what reaches the customer has been handled properly from start to finish.
Jek
Quality CheckerJek is a Quality Checker who serves as the "final gate" before many products move out for sale. He inspects appearance, packaging, and documentation, and flags anything that doesn't match our standards. For him, quality isn't just about looks; it's about honoring the work of every teammate who touched the product before him.
Farm & Operations
Edwin Sr
FarmerEdwin Sr is one of Alea's pillar farmers, with years of experience tending to cacao trees and other crops. He knows the land, the weather, and the subtle signs that tell him when the pods are ready. His careful work at the farm level is the reason we can proudly say our cacao is local, honest, and grown with respect for the soil.
Edwin Jr
Farmer & OperationsEdwin Jr stands at the intersection of farm and operations. By day he helps manage farm work and coordinate with cacao growers; by night he often assists with logistics and on-the-ground operations. He understands both the rhythm of the fields and the demands of the café, making sure cacao and other ingredients move smoothly from farm to roastery to cup.
Joey
Farmer & MaintenanceJoey splits his time between being a farmer and handling maintenance for our spaces and equipment. In the fields, he helps care for cacao and other crops; in the café and production area, he makes sure things are in good working order. Joey's hands keep both our plants and our place alive — repairing, tending, and making sure we can keep serving every day.
Interested in partnering with Alea?
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