The verdict in three sentences
For a cocoa exporter or a trading house sourcing from Côte d'Ivoire, the website has become part of the due diligence file a European buyer reads before renewing a contract. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires every lot to be linked to geolocated plots with no deforestation after 31 December 2020, and a site that clearly sets out the method, mapping figures and certifications shortens audits. Kolonell builds the buyer-facing site within its brochure grid of 800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (EUR 1,220 to 5,340) in 6 to 8 weeks, while connected traceability tools are scoped as a custom application.
What European buyers check before they sign
A grinder in Amsterdam, a chocolate maker in Belgium or a merchant in London must file a due diligence statement for each placing on the market. From their supplier they expect plot coordinates, proof of no deforestation, compliance with local law and a risk management system. Under the timetable in force at the end of 2026, the obligation applies first to large and medium companies, then to smaller operators a few months later.
The website does not replace your information system, but it signals how serious the approach is. Buyers open the sustainability page before their first visit to Abidjan.
| Buyer requirement | Expected evidence | Website page | Update frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plot geolocation | Polygons above 4 ha, GPS point below | Map and mapping method | Quarterly |
| No deforestation after 2020 | Satellite imagery analysis | EUDR and methodology page | Yearly |
| Legal production | Compliance with Ivorian law, farmer ID card | Compliance page | Yearly |
| Certifications | Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, organic by lot | Certifications page with numbers | At each renewal |
| Child labour | Monitoring and remediation system | Social impact page | Twice a year |
| Volumes and origins | Tonnage by cooperative and region | Key figures page | Yearly |
For an exporter handling 35,000 tonnes a year with 18,000 mapped plots, showing coverage (for example 96 % of volumes traced to the plot) says more than any slogan.
The pages that matter and what they cost
The typical structure includes a buyer-oriented home page, a products page (beans, liquor, butter, cake and powder depending on processing capacity), an EUDR and traceability page, a certifications page, a partner cooperatives page, a logistics page (Abidjan and San Pedro ports, shipping times to Antwerp, Amsterdam and Hamburg) and a sample or price request form. The site's languages are set in the quote; English is essential for Northern European buyers.
| Site component | Amsterdam or London agency (2026 estimate) | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate site, 6 to 8 pages | EUR 8,000 to 15,000 / £7,000 to 13,000 | Brochure grid EUR 1,220 to 5,340 |
| Interactive sourcing map | EUR 3,000 to 8,000 / £2,500 to 7,000 | Included in Premium, aggregated |
| Buyer portal with lot data | EUR 20,000 and up / £17,000 and up | Medium custom application, EUR 6,100 to 10,670 |
| Connection to existing traceability system | Quoted separately | Quoted separately |
| Monthly maintenance | EUR 200 to 600 / £170 to 500 | EUR 53 / 114 / 183 |
| Time to launch | 10 to 14 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks |
A warning: precise plot coordinates are never published openly. The public site shows aggregated data by region, while detailed polygons go through a secure portal reserved for buyers under contract.
Mini case study
Pieter, head of sourcing at a cocoa trading house in Amsterdam that buys from Ivorian cooperatives, spends too much time on customer questionnaires: 22 European clients, each sending a 40 to 80 question form every year, about 6 working days per questionnaire once data collection is counted, 132 days in total.
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With a Premium buyer site at about EUR 4,570 (3,000,000 FCFA) publishing the method, certifications and aggregated figures, plus a downloadable pack per client, he expects to cut each questionnaire to 3 days. That saves 66 days a year. At a fully loaded compliance officer cost of EUR 450 a day in the Netherlands, the saving is EUR 29,700 a year, several times the price of the site. That is before the premium of USD 20 to 50 per tonne sometimes negotiated for fully traced cocoa.
FAQ
Is the website enough to prove EUDR compliance?
No, legal proof relies on the data passed to the buyer and on the buyer's own statement. The site presents the method and figures and often halves the number of questions during audits.
Should we publish the coordinates of all 18,000 plots?
Never openly, to protect farmers. Publish aggregated data by region and keep polygons in a secure portal, scoped in the quote.
Which certifications should we highlight?
Only those you actually hold, with their number and expiry date. An expired certificate on the site costs more credibility than a missing logo.
How long does it take to go live?
Allow 6 to 8 weeks, including 2 weeks to gather mapping figures, certificates and cooperative photos.
How often must the site be updated?
Key figures at least once a year, the EUDR page whenever the rules change. Standard maintenance at EUR 114 (75,000 FCFA) a month covers these technical updates.
Let's scope your project. Share your volumes, certifications and traceability system, and we will scope the buyer site and any portal on a 6 to 8 week plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
