African Business Profile: 19 Degrees East Natural Products (Pty) Ltd.

Business Type: Grower, Exporter
Location: Paarl, South Africa
Business Established: 1995
Number of Employees: 6
Grower Locations: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique
Main Markets: Germany, France, Spain, UK, and US
Best-Selling Herbs: Devil's claw, rosehips, aloe, buchu, rooibos tea
Immediate Goals: Forging new partnerships with importers, particularly in the US
Contact: Guy Davies, Co-founder, east19@cis.co.za

Over the past 13 years, Guy Davies has had the opportunity to see the international herb market from several vantage points - as a grower in Yorkshire, England; as a partner in a successful British botanical export business; and now as co-founder of South African-based 19 Degrees East Natural Products Ltd. After several years of exploring the beautiful country of South Africa, in 1995 Davies and his wife co-founded their business on the Western Cape, where the growing climate is unrivalled and communication with the rest of Africa and the world is strong. Five years later, business is flourishing and the couple is enjoying the incredible diversity that South Africa has to offer – both botanically and ethnically.   

According to Davies, the company’s main goal is to supply the highest quality raw materials to major clients in Germany, France, Spain, the UK, and the US. This requires stringent quality control measures and recognition that their markets ultimately set the standards. “Our main challenge is to consistently achieve our clients’ requirements,” Davies commented. 19 Degrees East Natural Products specializes in growing and sourcing well-known African plants including rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), aloe (Aloe ferox), and buchu (Agathosma betulina), as well as plants that are marketed worldwide such as St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), echinacea (Echinacea spp.), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), and rosehips (Rosa canina). One of their greatest successes has been the creation of devil’s claw plantations in Namibia, a project that entailed coordinating research work conducted in Namibia and Botswana, working with a professional team of German botanists, and instituting a training program for growers and harvesters.  

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The Herb Research Foundation is pleased to present the fifth issue of A-SNAPP Update, a weekly online newsletter for African growers and producers, A-SNAPP partners, international buyers, and others interested in the A-SNAPP project. We need your input to make A-SNAPP Update a success! In particular, we are seeking stories on individual African farms and businesses, traditional African medicine, protection of endangered African plants, and other issues important to you and your business. If you would like to be profiled as a featured business in A-SNAPP Update or have an idea for a story, please contact Krista Morien at kmorien@herbs.org.