PRESS RELEASE
21st April 2015
Blue Skies, a prepared fruit and juice producer with factories in Ghana, Egypt, South Africa and Brazil, has received a Queens Award for Sustainable Development for the third time. The award recognises the company’s contribution to development in Africa and South America by producing fresh from harvest cut-fruit and freshly squeezed juice, prepared within the country of origin. In particular it acknowledges how the Blue Skies Joint Effort Enterprise Model has enabled the company to turn itself around following the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 which grounded flights over Europe and prevented the business from importing its products for over five days.
The Joint Effort Enterprise model (JEE) espouses the idea that a business works best if it is inclusive, socially equal and profitable. This model has enabled the company to stay ahead of the competition, respond to challenges and maintain a healthy rate of growth.
Blue Skies prepared fruit products are available under retailer own label from over fifteen leading European supermarket chains, while its freshly squeezed juice are available under the Blue Skies brand in Ghana and South Africa. Since receiving its first Queens Award in 2008 the company has continued to strengthen its commitment to sustainable development. Its aim of producing the finished product in the country of origin has resulted in number of benefits including employment for over 3,500 people and investment in local communities through the Blue Skies Foundation.
Founder and Chairman Anthony Pile said “It is a huge honour to receive this prestigious award for the third time. Since the business was founded in 1998 we have continued to show how our Joint Effort
