Catherine Krobo Edusei, founder of Eden Tree Limited, has reaffirmed the potential of Ghanaian agribusiness to compete on the global market, citing the company’s nearly three-decade journey as proof that locally built businesses can meet international standards.

Her comments come as Pangea Africa Ltd (Pangea) and Black Star Africa Ltd (BSA) jointly acquire a majority stake in Eden Tree, Ghana’s leading producer and distributor of fresh, packaged fruits and vegetables.

The transaction is expected to position Eden Tree for its next phase of growth, including potential expansion across the West African market.

The investors acquired their majority stake from international impact investment fund Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), which had held shares in Eden Tree since 2015.

The deal represents a significant secondary-market transaction and highlights the growing sophistication of Ghana’s financial ecosystem, demonstrating its capacity to facilitate complex investment exits despite global economic pressures and currency adjustments.

Founded in 1997 by Edusei, Eden Tree has evolved from a small packaging operation into a household brand, supported by a network of outgrower farmers and a modern processing facility in Tema.

As she transitions into the role of Board Director and Founder Emeritus, Edusei said the company’s commitment to female leadership would remain central to its future.

“Building Eden Tree over nearly three decades has been the privilege of my life,” Edusei said.

“From our humble beginnings, we proved that Ghanaian agribusiness can meet strict international standards of safety, quality, and consistency. I am proud to pass the baton of stewardship to Pangea and Black Star Africa. Having Tracy join the Board ensures that the spirit of female leadership and strategic vision that has defined Eden Tree for 29 years will continue to drive this company forward.”

Tracy Boswell Scicchitano, Director at Pangea Africa and incoming Board Director of Eden Tree, said the company had built a strong foundation for regional expansion.

“Catherine’s resilience, vision, and operational grit since 1997 have built a foundational asset that is ready for regional scale,” she said.

“At Pangea, we believe that empowering local food systems requires active, hands-on equity stewardship. We are incredibly proud to continue Eden Tree’s history of strong women’s leadership at the governance level.”

The new majority owners plan to strengthen Eden Tree’s operations and supply chain through investments in solar-powered cooling systems, climate-smart drip irrigation and outgrower cooperatives.

John Scicchitano, Strategic Advisor at Pangea Africa, said the interventions would help reduce post-harvest losses while improving access to affordable and nutritious food.

“Eden Tree is solving this on the ground. By installing solar-powered cooling units near farms, expanding climate-smart drip irrigation, and organising outgrower cooperatives, we will preserve nutrients from field to fork,” he said.

Grant Webber, incoming CEO of Eden Tree and representative of Black Star Africa, said operational optimisation would be the immediate priority.

“By combining Black Star’s turnaround execution with Pangea’s strategic capital, we are building an integrated West African fresh food champion,” he said.

I&P described its exit from Eden Tree as a successful investment lifecycle and expressed confidence that Pangea and Black Star Africa have the strategic vision and local operational capacity to take the company to its full potential.

BAI