Efforts around the world to transition to more sustainable societies are afoot, and companies have a major role to play in this transition.  This research analyzed how multinational cocoa processing companies can strategically contribute to social sustainability of cocoa farmers. The authors present the cocoa challenge as a socially imbalanced system that cannot be continued indefinitely. In collaboration with a case study company, the authors evaluated how the sustainability program of the case study company incorporates social sustainability to determine what the gaps are in contributing to improving social sustainability of cocoa farmers and make use of the Framework for Strategic Development (FSSD). Building on their findings the authors offer guidance on how to implement strategic sustainable development in multinational cocoa processing companies to realize socially sustainable cocoa.