Late Bent Hammond – Founder of Hammond Farms Investments
Bent Hammond (1940–2018) was born in Aarhus, Denmark, into a family of modest means with a deep connection to farming. His father, a dairy farmer, instilled in him a strong work ethic and a passion for sustainable agriculture. Despite Denmark’s cold climate limiting tropical crop production, Bent was fascinated by global farming practices, particularly cocoa cultivation.
After completing his studies in Agronomy at the University of Copenhagen, he embarked on a journey across West Africa in the 1960s, where he fell in love with the rich soils and cocoa-growing traditions of *Ghana*.
The Birth of Hammond Farms Investments
In 1975, Bent leveraged his savings and a small loan to acquire a 145-acres cocoa farm in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. Naming it Hammond Farms Investments (HFI), he combined European agricultural precision with African expertise, pioneering high-yield, sustainable cocoa farming long before it became an industry standard.
Unlike many colonial-era plantations, Bent built his business on fair wages, community partnerships, and environmental stewardship. He introduced shade-grown cocoa to preserve biodiversity and invested in fermentation techniques to enhance bean quality, earning a reputation for producing some of Ghana’s finest cocoa.
Expansion & Legacy
By the 1990s, HFI had expanded to multiple farms across Ghana and Ivory Coast, supplying premium cocoa to European chocolatiers. Bent was a vocal advocate for direct trade, cutting out exploitative middlemen to ensure farmers earned a living wage.
His innovations included:
– Early adoption of organic certification (1998)
– Founding a farmer training institute (2005)
– Pioneering cocoa traceability tech (2010)
Personal Life & Passing
Bent had one daughter, Rita Hammond, who later inherited HFI.
A lifelong adventurer, he split his time between Ghana, Denmark, and Switzerland, where he collaborated with chocolatiers to refine flavor profiles. He passed away peacefully at 78 in his Copenhagen home, leaving behind a $200M agribusiness empire and a model for ethical cocoa production.
Quotes & Philosophy
“Cocoa isn’t just a crop—it’s a bridge between continents. Treat the land and people well, and the beans will tell the story.”
“Sustainability isn’t a trend; it’s the only way forward.”
Honors & Posthumous Recognition
– World Cocoa Foundation Legacy Award (2019)
– Ghana’s Order of the Star for agricultural impact (2020, awarded posthumously).
Bent’s vision lives on through his daughter Rita’s leadership, with HFI now a benchmark for socially responsible agribusiness.
Rita Hammond was born into a family deeply rooted in agriculture. Her father, Bent Hammond, was a visionary entrepreneur who built Hammond Farms Investments from a small cocoa plantation into a thriving agribusiness empire. Growing up, Rita spent much of her childhood on the family farm, learning the intricacies of cocoa cultivation, sustainability, and business management from her father.
She pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, followed by an MBA in International Business. Her academic background, combined with hands-on farm experience, equipped her with the expertise to lead a modern agribusiness.
Taking the Helm
In 2018, tragedy struck when Bent Hammond passed away unexpectedly, leaving Rita as the sole heir to Hammond Farms Investments. Though initially hesitant about stepping into her father’s shoes, she embraced the challenge with determination. Under her leadership, the company shifted toward sustainable and ethical cocoa production, earning certifications such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic.
Vision & Achievements
Rita is a strong advocate for women in agriculture and has implemented programs to train and empower female farmers in West Africa. She also introduced precision farming techniques and blockchain traceability to ensure transparency in the cocoa supply chain.
Beyond farming, she expanded the business into value-added products, launching a premium chocolate line under the brand “Hammond’s Reserve.” Her innovative approach has doubled the company’s revenue in just five years.
Personal Life
A fiercely independent woman, Rita is unmarried and wholly dedicated to her business. She enjoys traveling to cocoa-producing regions, exploring new farming technologies, and mentoring young agripreneurs. In her rare downtime, she indulges in dark chocolate tasting, horseback riding, and philanthropy, supporting education for children in farming communities.
Legacy & Future Goals
Rita Hammond is not just preserving her father’s legacy—she is redefining it. Her mission is to make Hammond Farms Investments a global leader in sustainable cocoa, proving that ethical business practices and profitability can go hand in hand.
“My father taught me that the best cocoa doesn’t just come from the soil—it comes from the heart. Every bean tells a story, and I want ours to be one of quality, fairness, and innovation.” – Rita Hammond