REG - Agriterra Ltd - Sierra Leone Organic Cocoa Trading Agreement <Origin Href="QuoteRef">AGTAR.L</Origin>
RNS Number : 1212GAgriterra Ltd18 November 2015Agriterra Ltd / Ticker: AGTA / Index: AIM / Sector: Agriculture
18 November 2015
Agriterra Ltd ('Agriterra' or 'the Group')
Sierra Leone Organic Cocoa Trading Agreement
Agriterra, the AIM listed pan-African agricultural company, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned Sierra Leone cocoa business, Tropical Farms Limited ('Tropical Farms') has signed a trading agreement ('the Trading Agreement') with a leading global company focused on natural, organic and specialty foods (the 'Offtaker').
Under the terms of the Trading Agreement, Tropical Farms will use its organic certification and buying networks to source and supply up to 500Mt of Sierra Leonean cocoa beans to the Offtaker during the 2015/2016 buying season; the Offtaker will provide Tropical Farms with pre-financing for the purchase of beans.
The Trading Agreement will leverage Tropical Farms' extensive infrastructure in Sierra Leone, including a 2000m state-of-the-art warehouse in Kenema. As well as Tropical Farms sourcing and supplying cocoa, the Offtaker has expressed its interest in additional produce and both parties have committed to explore opportunities for organic coffee and other organic food crops.
Adrian Simpson, Managing Director of Tropical Farms, said, "I am pleased to announce this Trading Agreement, which marks a positive step in the recovery of the cocoa industry in Sierra Leone following the Ebola outbreak in 2014. I am proud to say that Tropical Farms remained active throughout the crisis - utilising our fleet of vehicles, logistics hub in Kenema, and extensive warehousing facilities to support the work of international aid agencies - which was an invaluable support in the heart of the region most affected.
"Now that Sierra Leone has been declared Ebola free, Tropical Farms and Agriterra firmly support post-Ebola reconstruction and development works. This Trading Agreement, with a leading international company focussed on natural, organic and specialty foods, is a positive step in rebuilding the cocoa industry in-country and redirecting much-needed foreign investment back into Sierra Leone."
**ENDS**
For further information please visit www.agriterra-ltd.com or contact:
Andrew Groves
Agriterra Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7408 9200
Adrian Simpson
Tropical Farms Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 77 1142 0332
David Foreman
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7894 7000
Michael Reynolds
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7894 7000
John Beaumont
Peat & Co.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3540 1723
Charlotte Heap
St Brides Partners Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177
Hugo de Salis
St Brides Partners Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177
This information is provided by RNSThe company news service from the London Stock ExchangeENDAGRMMMMMLRVGKZG
Recent news on Agriterra
See all newsREG - Agriterra Ltd - Result of AGM
AnnouncementREG - Agriterra Ltd - Half-year Report
AnnouncementREG - Agriterra Ltd - Notice of Annual General Meeting
AnnouncementREG - Agriterra Ltd - 2023 Annual Results and Trading Restoration
AnnouncementREG - AIM Agriterra Ltd - Restoration - Agriterra Limted
Announcement