BZH Exporters & Importers was established in 1998 and soon became the leader in the field of procuring and supplying a wide variety of medicinal plant material from the African continent. This resulted in the establishment of various cultivation projects and strategic alliances across the African continent to ensure sustainability and quality supply channels.
Adolf Joubert, with a strong background in Business Management and Consultation and a long successful career in his own businesses, joined BZH Exporters & Importers in 2005 and took responsibility and control of the strategic planning and development of the company.
With the dream of expanding the business more aggressively in specifically the international markets, BZH and Afrinatural (a previous “Exporter of the Year” of CCC) decided to merge in September 2009 and continued to trade under the sole name of Afrinatural with Adolf Joubert as CEO.
During 2012 Afrinatural decided on a strategy to expand their product range by incorporating innovative Indigenous Oils, Butters and Resins for the cosmetic and fragrances industries. To do so, Afrinatural has been in continuous consultation with industry experts such as Ms. Karen Swanepoel (current president of the SA Essential Oils Association) in order to facilitate the selection and quality management of the developing oil pressing and associated industries in Southern Africa. Through this cooperation we are confident that we can offer a high quality of African products and simultaneously support rural economic development in Southern Africa.
In February 2013 Afrinatural took over Zizamele Herbs with their specialist processing facility and exciting retail products – blended medicinal teas as well as capsules of well-known and very useful indigenous products.
Afrinatural has been recognised for their contribution to exports by the following Awards:
- Runner Up - 2013 Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (Export Category) hosted by the Premier of the Western Cape Province (where we are situated)
- FINALIST - 2013 Cape Town Chamber of Commerce Western Cape Exporter of the Year Awards
- FINALIST - 2014 SA Premier Business Awards (Export Category)
- FINALIST - 2014 Cape Town Chamber of Commerce Western Cape Exporter of the Year Awards
- FINALIST - 2014 Small Business Champion Awards (Entrepreneurship, Exports, Small Business)
- FINALIST - 2016 Cape Town Chamber of Commerce Western Cape Exporter of the Year Awards
In 2015 Afrinatural was selected by CBI (Dutch trade development agency) to participate in a 3-5 year trade development programme. This will expose them to best practices & requirements as expected by EU clients. The benefit will also be available to all their international, non-EU clients.
During 2016 the Belgium Government approved the expense to send an industry expert in financial planning to evaluate and assist with drawing up strategies to keep the growth momentum of Afrinatural for the future.