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A selected group of small businesses from Ghana have obtained what has been described as a ground-breaking permission to export their products to the US market.
They are AS Chanan Company, owners of the Ascolate Cocoa Powder brand; SheaCoco Beauty Natural and Handmade Cosmetics created by Jay Emjay Company; Achiever Foods Limited; Acquatic Foods Limited, producers of koobi power, koobi chunks and boneless koobi; and Flocare Beauty.
For a start, they are to sell their products at Brown’s ShopRite stores, a reputable retailer of food and non-food products in Philadelphia.
Located in many neighbourhoods in America, ShopRite, sells various products such as clothing, food items, fruit and vegetables, cosmetics, household appliances, liquor, general merchandise, and home entertainment systems, and it is expected that the new products from Ghana will offer their clients additional variety to choose from.
Facilitated by Diaspora Services and Products Incorporated in collaboration with the US-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia, the move is expected to help the small businesses to scale up their operations to increase revenue and to add to the country’s portfolio of non-traditional products to the diaspora.
Among the products to be displayed on the shelves of Shoprite are creams and cosmetics made from sheabutter, high grade tea and cocoa products, dried salted fish (koobi), and African black soap.
Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yofi Grant, who spoke at mini exhibition to kick-start the deal at Brown’s ShopRite in South West Philadelphia, described the move as great opportunity for Ghanaian small businesses to enter the US market.
He said the move will also offer ShopRite an opportunity to serve their diverse clientele from the diaspora and Caribbean among others with additional variety of high quality organic products from Ghana.
“It must be noted that, the more diverse high quality organic products you have in your stores, the more clientele you attract” he added and expressed the hope that this deal will go a long way to benefit not only the small businesses from Ghana but ShopRite as well.
Mr Grant said he hopes to see more of the Ghanaian products on the shelves of ShopRite in the near future.
The President of the US Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Florence Torson-Hart, said the long moments to cement the deal had paid off and expressed the hope that it will lead to better opportunities for both parties.
She pledged the commitment of the small businesses from Ghana to keep to standards to ensure the products meet the taste and preference of the clients of ShopRite.
A representative of Brown’s ShopRite, Deasra Basher, expressed delight at the partnership and expressed the hope that it will open new opportunities for both the Ghanaian businesses and ShopRite.
Ghana’s Trade Attaché to the United States, Washington DC, Cynthia Djokoto, described the move as a positive business relationship.
“We hope to see more of the products on the shelves soon,” she added while congratulating the small businesses for their achievement.
The Chief Operating Officer, Tyrone Hart, was happy about the feedback which pointed to satisfaction and indicated that this will lead to a greater enterprise.
The Chief Executive Officer of Diaspora Incorporated, Eric Nzeribe, expressed delight at the deal and looked forward to a great future.
The Chief Executive Officer of Jay Emjay Company, Mary Josephine Ofori, said “As a Ghanaian small business holder I’m super excited for the opportunity to introduce our made in Ghana products into the US market and supply to Brown’s ShopRite stores in Philadelphia and grateful to the US -Ghana Chamber for championing this cause.
