Pangea Africa Ltd (Pangea) and Black Star Africa Ltd (BSA) have announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Eden Tree Limited, Ghana’s leading producer and distributor of fresh, packaged fruits and vegetables.
The transaction marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s agribusiness sector, following the acquisition of shares previously held by international impact investment fund Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), which invested in Eden Tree in 2015.
The deal represents a rare secondary market transaction in Ghana, highlighting the growing sophistication of the country’s capital markets and the ability of local investors to execute complex ownership transitions despite challenging global economic conditions.
As part of the transition, Eden Tree founder Catherine Krobo Edusei will move into the role of Founder Emeritus and Director after nearly three decades of leading the company, while Tracy Boswell Scicchitano, Director at Pangea Africa, joins the Board of Directors.
Founded in 1997, Eden Tree has grown from a small packaging operation into a recognised Ghanaian agribusiness brand, managing a network of outgrower farmers and operating a modern processing facility in Tema.
The company has become known for producing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting efforts to improve food safety, quality standards, and post-harvest management in Ghana.
Speaking on her transition, Catherine Krobo Edusei expressed pride in the company’s journey and confidence in its future under the new ownership structure.
“Building Eden Tree over nearly three decades has been the privilege of my life. 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,” she said.
Tracy Boswell Scicchitano said Catherine’s leadership had created a strong foundation for the company’s next phase of growth.
“Catherine’s resilience, vision, and operational grit since 1997 have built a foundational asset that is ready for regional scale,” she said.
She added that Pangea Africa remains committed to strengthening local food systems through active investment and governance support.
“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. By working closely with I&P, Catherine, and our banking partners, we have proven the oft-cited phrase that ‘Ghana is open for business’,” she added.
Focus On Food Security And Expansion
The new ownership comes at a time when food security challenges, rising production costs, and post-harvest losses continue to affect agricultural economies across West Africa.
Pangea Africa Strategic Advisor John Scicchitano said private agribusinesses such as Eden Tree have a critical role to play in addressing food accessibility challenges by improving supply chains and reducing food waste.
“While global institutions debate policy at international summits, local private agribusinesses are taking direct, physical action to combat hunger,” he said.
He noted that significant quantities of fresh produce are lost after harvest due to weak supply chains and inadequate cold storage systems.
“Eden Tree is solving this on the ground. By installing solar-powered cooling units near farms, expanding climate-smart drip irrigation, and organizing outgrower cooperatives, we will preserve nutrients from field to fork, directly driving down the cost of a healthy diet in Ghana,” he added.
Grant Webber, the incoming Chief Executive Officer of Eden Tree and representative of Black Star Africa, said the immediate priority would be strengthening operations and positioning the company for regional growth.
“Our immediate focus is operational optimization,” he said.
“By combining Black Star’s turnaround execution with Pangea’s strategic capital, we are building an integrated West African fresh food champion,” he added.
I&P Completes Investment Exit
The transaction also marks the successful exit of I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs Fund from Eden Tree after nearly a decade of partnership.
Francis Owusu of I&P described the move as an example of a healthy investment lifecycle in Ghana’s growing business environment.
“The secondary exit of I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs Fund from Eden Tree represents a healthy, mature investment lifecycle in Ghana,” he said.
He added: “We are proud of our decade-long partnership with Catherine Krobo Edusei, during which the company expanded its processing facilities and professionalized its operations. We leave Eden Tree in the exceptionally capable hands of Pangea and Black Star Africa, who have the strategic vision and local operational capacity to take this business to its ultimate potential.”
The new ownership structure is expected to accelerate Eden Tree’s expansion, strengthen Ghana’s fresh food supply chain, and position the company as a major player in West Africa’s agribusiness sector.
