On a day-to-day basis founder and MD Chris Jahnke manages Charley’s operations. But Charley’s is a private company with 165 shareholders and a board. So, there is more to it than Chris running the show.
Some shareholders are from as far back as 2014 when Chris and Lynne Jahnke went looking for support for their idea of an integrated cocoa growing and chocolate making business in FNQ. Then from 2018, 140 shareholders joined the share register from the Crowdsource funding campaign. Crowd source funding suited Charley’s as it is a retail brand.
How are investor interests protected
Charley’s is governed by a board. Charley’s also has an advisory board. An advisory board is a good idea for an early-stage company where the board of directors is usually small.
The board protects the interests of shareholders by:
- Making decisions in the interests of all shareholders
- Holding the CEO to account
- Ensuring annual financial statements go to shareholders
- Convening the annual general meeting which is open to all shareholders
- Regular shareholder communications
The Charley’s Board
The board meets in person 4 times per year at Mission Beach; and has regular Zoom calls.
The Charley’s Board meeting held on 25th March 2023
For those of you new to ‘board land’, a board meeting has an agenda, papers associated with agenda items and regular items. The objective of a board meeting is to gain insights into the business, make decisions and ensure the business is viable.
Sample Agenda
1.Opening of meeting
2.Declaration of interests
3.Approval of minutes of prior meeting
4.CEO report
a.Health and safety report and people
b.Risk Register
c.Wholesale customers initiatives
d.Chocolate Manufacturing
e.Cocoa plantation update
5.Financial reports
6.Capital expenditure plan
7.Other matters
a.Aust Cocoa Council developments
b.Chocolate exports update
c.Any other business
d.Next meeting date & meeting close
Values statement
A strategy session, chaired by Advisory Board member Jim McKerlie was part of the events held during the 2022 AGM week. From this came Charley’s statement of values, which is on our website, in our point-of-sale materials and displayed in the workplace.
Charley’s of Mission Beach
Our business
We make world-class, premium, luxury chocolate from our Australian cocoa and from that of our South Pacific Partners.
We are based at Mission Beach, Tropical North Queensland Australia where “Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef”.
We use sustainable methods to grow premium cocoa which has been awarded independent global recognition as amongst the finest in the world.
Our Values
Australian
- We are proudly Australian growers and producers and use premium Australian ingredients.
Excellence
- In everything we do, we strive to produce the finest chocolate.
Respect for people
- Above all we recognise and respect the value people bring to our business.
- Our own staff and customers, growers, suppliers, and partners are key to our success.
Sustainability
- We recognize that we work and live in a World Heritage Area and judge every action we take as responsible land managers and custodians.
