2016 StartUpper of the Year

JE&F Co Limited is a wholly Ghanaian-owned limited liability company, incorporated in 2014. Operating on 22 acres of land in Ensachi, it currently cultivates 7.5 acres, producing 175,000 Smooth Cayenne pineapples.

The company partners with Blue Skies and focuses on import substitution, offering pineapples at 20% lower cost than imports. JE&F employs technology-driven farming, including full irrigation and automated soil moisture monitoring — a first in its region — and provides free drinking water to a nearby village of over 100 residents.

With a team of 3 full-time and 12 part-time workers (50% women), JE&F sells to local markets and exporters. It plans to expand by engaging out-growers and promoting tech adoption.

Long-term, JE&F aims to scale across Africa, tapping into the continent’s vast uncultivated arable land to meet rising food demand.

Unique Quality Product Enterprise (UQPE) is a Ghanaian agribusiness focused on sustainable production, processing, and marketing of Fonio, a nutritious indigenous cereal. Targeting vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and diabetics—estimated to be 60% of Ghana’s population—Fonio aims to improve health, reduce poverty, and support local farmers while cutting down food imports.

UQPE is committed to GMO-free, environmentally responsible practices, offering Fonio in eco-friendly packaging. The company plans to achieve 40% product awareness in Ghana within 10 years, expand market share to 60%, and explore export opportunities to the USA, Europe, and across Africa. It also intends to launch a scholarship scheme for farmers’ children.

Led by a small but dedicated team, UQPE envisions Fonio as a staple healthy meal for families across Ghana and beyond.

E-juice Company Ltd is a Ghanaian agro-processing business dedicated to producing natural fruit and vegetable juices to promote health and vitality. With a mission to address low juice intake and related health issues in Ghana, the company offers fresh, additive-free juices made from tropical fruits and vegetables such as pineapple, mango, orange, carrot, tomato, and spinach.

Their products cater to all age groups and are positioned as healthier alternatives to sugary, carbonated soft drinks. E-juice targets hospitals, schools, hotels, and restaurants, and has signed an MOU with Valley View University to set up a processing plant for its 3,500 students and staff.

The company also provides juice services at events, door-to-door delivery, and retail sales. Its team includes experts in nutrition, finance, marketing, and production, with a mix of full-time and part-time staff. E-juice aims to become the leading natural juice producer in Ghana and Africa within the next decade.