Africa-focused Obtala Resources (LON:OBT) has hired a food expert as consultant and strategic partner so it can expand and improve its Tanzanian agribusiness.
The appointment of Julie Dedman and her team is also aimed at fast-tracking food and safety certification for the group's farm and drying unit, it said .
A final audit inspection by independent consultants is expected early next month (June).
The aim is to supply more than 200 tonnes of fresh produce a month to Dar es Salaam - Africa's fast growing city and revenue from sales will significantly reduce the overall operating cost for the dried fruit operation which will re-commence once certification is awarded.
The company has also been developing the fresh fruit and vegetable business with sales of over 16 varieties having started Tanzania.
Julie Dedman is a distinguished entrepreneur. In 1984, she formed her own business, West Riding Laboratory Services with a grant of £1,000 from The Prince's Trust Youth Business Initiative and 14 years later, it was analysing two-thirds of the UK's milk.
Today, she runs nine multi-million pound companies in a variety of sectors ranging from food manufacturing, clean air facilities and manufacturing of surgical ophthalmology instruments.
Obtala also reported today that deputy chairman Stephen Murphy has stepped down from the board to concentrate on African Home Stores (AHS) and its subsidiaries including Life Comfort Solutions (LCS) .
Obtala chairman Francesco Scolaro, Chairman of Obtala, said: "Julie's vast expertise and experience will help fast-track our certification process and most importantly the quality of production leading to a more sustainable and higher levels of route to market.
"We will build our farm and production development plans around Julie's requirements, focusing on margin optimisation and returns.
"I firmly believe that this relationship will rapidly deliver realizable benefits for all stakeholders as we build on the debt-free asset platform we have built thus far. In very much the same way Stephen Murphy will bring his retail experience to finishing the turnaround of LCS and drive its expansion."
Obtala shares eased 2.78% to 8.75p.