In 2003, Ugandan entrepreneur Andrew Rugasira had an idea; he believed that it was time for Africans to process and market their own products globally and use trade as a means to bring about the sustainable development so desperately needed by the farmers and communities.

That same year Andrew and a small team of dedicated colleagues travelled to western Uganda, a region that once produced quality coffees, but had over the years suffered from poor farming practices and low prices. Seeing the potential, the Good African team began organizing the farmers into producer groups. The team then embarked on an intensive program of best practices training for the farmers to produce quality Arabica coffees that would ensure a better return on their harvest. Today, they are proud to say that more than 14000 farmers have joined their network of suppliers.

In 2004 the company launched its roast & ground coffees in South Africa through the Shoprite Checkers supermarket chain.

In 2005 Waitrose became the first UK supermarket chain to list Good African roast and ground coffees. The following year Good African launched their freeze dried coffee which together with their roast and ground coffees was listed in Sainsburys.

For decades Africans have produced what they do not consume and consumed what they do not produce. With few exceptions, processing and value addition has historically taken place outside Africa. Good African decided to address this by setting up a roasting and packaging facility in Kampala in July 2009. Processing the coffee in Uganda where it is grown allows the company to retain a greater proportion of the value addition thereby enabling the Company to better support the farmers and empower their communities.

Vision:

To be a leading African agribusiness producing quality products for the global market and using trade to bring about sustainable community development.

Mission:

To sell the finest African agro products bought direct from the growers at prices that ensure they make a profitable return on their harvest.
To operate their company on a sustainable financial basis within a framework of commercial best practices that places community empowerment at the heart of their business.
To create value for their farmers and their communities by investing a guaranteed portion of their profits in sustainable projects.
To train their farmers in agricultural best practices, and enable them to improve their crop quality and overall farm productivity.

Values:

Good African strives to adhere to Christian values rooted in the biblical principles of Love, Respect, Humility and Generosity.

They believe that if they conduct their business according to these principles they can create genuine and sustainable community transformation.

They also believe that they are here on earth for a purpose greater than their own subjective and individual needs; a purpose that recognizes that they all are inheritors of this earth and that they all share one destiny. If they sow kindness, love, and respect, they shall reap the fruits of what they sow - a kinder, more gentle and respectful world.

They aim to be a blessing in the lives of those with whom they do and share business. Their prayer is to be known as having made a contribution to improving the living conditions of the communities where they work.