In 2021, the SDG Fund invested in Global Tea. The company is a family-owned agribusiness group founded in 1992 as a trading firm. It has since grown to include tea blending, coffee, and macadamia plantations across East Africa.
Global Tea is a supplier of choice to a variety of multinationals with products found in supermarkets and hospitality outlets across the world. In the region, the company trades under East Africa’s premier tea brands, Kericho Gold and Baraka Chai. The products are Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certified.
Global Tea is Malawi’s largest coffee producer and one of its top macadamia producers. Tea is sourced across east Africa and packing facilities are in Kenya.
“Global Tea’s unceasing commitment to excellence in our products has created a great deal of pent-up demand from our customers and we are looking forward to grow further throughout Africa – creating new jobs, new products, and better serving our customers.”
Nadeem Ahmed, Executive Chairman, Global Tea & Commodities.
Supporting smallholder farmers
The company is a major employer of women in Kenya and Malawi and has a positive impact on the local economy, and the investment by the Danish SDG Investment Fund has assisted Global Tea in continuing its expansion plans.
In 2016, Global Tea launched its smallholder macadamia programme and has provided 300,000 seedlings to 3,000 farmers, along with technical agronomic support on managing pests and plant disease and other topics.
Facts:
Investment year: 2021
SDG Fund investment: DKK 70m
Expected total investment: DKK 137m