As we continue to evolve our model… we are now opening up the platform to all CPG Brands.  *Stay Tuned* for more information!

Now Inviting:  Cosmetics, Beauty, Pet, Food Service, and All other CPG Brands to apply.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Eastern Pennsylvania District Office announces Grovara is the recipient of its Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year Award for 2023. Media are invited to attend.

WHO:

    • Steve Dixel, District Director, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Office
    • Michael Kane, Deputy District Director, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Office
    • Abu Kamara, Co-Founder & CEO

WHAT:     Grovara is the SBA Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year; media are invited to tour the business and will have opportunities for interviews and photos.

WHEN:     Thursday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:   We Work, 1100 Ludlow Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Abu Kamara, a native of Sierra Leone, is the Co-Founder & CEO of Grovara. Since the company’s founding in 2010, exporting is Grovara’s entire business. One hundred percent of Grovara’s sales are international, facilitated by their digital exporting solution. Grovara is the exports and imports wholesale marketplace for consumer and food service brands. Their platform streamlines the entire process from product discovery, order processing, to payments and fulfillment, all in a single marketplace. Grovara provides an EXIM-backed, trade-financed insurance policy covering mishaps associated with transactions and maintains in-country expertise via relationships with trade, foreign agricultural service and U.S. Embassy representatives. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the business has 30 employees and many in-country experts and supply chain/logistics acting as an extension of brands’ sales teams, moving thousands of products into more than 72 countries in the Middle East, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Australia, South Africa, and Europe.

Grovara received a small SBA Export Express loan in 2012 to get their business started. Grovara utilized SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture programs to conduct trade missions to Australia in 2015. Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Pennsylvania invested in the business in 2016 and in 2022.

Grovara’s global supply chain was impacted during the pandemic, with country-specific requirements, a sea of export and operations documentation, and inefficiencies among logistics providers. The business credits receiving the SBA’s COVID EIDL loan and SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loan to help keep their employees on payroll.

“It’s a privilege to recognize the achievements of small businesses such as Grovara,” said Steve Dixel, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania Director. “Exporting is challenging; that’s why only 1 in 10 American companies sell overseas. However, CEO Abu Kamara knows that the opportunities are enormous as 95% of global consumers live outside the U.S. We are proud to have played a role in helping Grovara through our Export Express Loan and STEP grant overcome obstacles to exporting and making it easier to enter and expand into international markets and thus positively impacting the global economy.”

“The future of trade is digital, with a human touch. The growth facilitated by our digital exporting solution has created and retained hundreds of jobs at dozens of small- to medium-sized companies all over the country,” said Abu Kamara, CEO and co-founder, Grovara. “It’s an honor for Grovara to be named SBA’s Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year. I am thankful for the SBA Export Express loan that provided us the opportunity to start our business and for the SBA pandemic loan programs that sustained Grovara and our team members during COVID.”

In 2022, Grovara introduced its concept for reinventing the trade show. Its small-format, curated event, Grovara Food Week in Dubai, brought together 16 brands and 150 buyers from across the Middle East. Brands benefitted from Grovara’s data-based matching of buyers with brands, who reeled in 25% of sales opportunities, which can be as low as 1% at large-format shows according to participating brands.

Grovara’s business model revolves around opening access to foreign markets for U.S. CPG brands, and their team works daily to communicate how Grovara’s online marketplace facilitates trade with ease, accuracy, and success. During this engagement, Grovara educates brands and provides a turnkey solution that boosts growth and valuation.

Grovara’s co-founders were named to the National Small Business Association’s Small Business Technology Council and use their considerable global and innovation expertise to advocate for access to new markets. Grovara’s leadership team regularly speaks at retail, technology, and B2B conferences, sharing tips on how to access international markets and streamline exporting.

Export Express is the SBA’s simplest export loan program. It provides up to $500,000 in financing. Any business that has been in operation for at least 12 full months, although not necessarily in exporting, and can demonstrate that the loan proceeds will support its export activity is eligible. Export Express can take the form of a term loan or a revolving line of credit. Loan proceeds may be used for business purposes that will enhance a company’s export development.

The STEP grant program has helped thousands of small businesses obtain grants and find customers in the international marketplace since 2011. STEP financial support helps U.S. small businesses learn to export, participate in foreign trade missions, export trade show exhibits, and more. Learn more about STEP at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/grants/state-trade-expansion-program-step.

SBA’s Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year award winner is selected from among nominees located across the 67 counties of the Commonwealth. National Small Business Week recognizes the small business community’s contribution to the American economy. Learn more about National Small Business Week at www.sba.gov/NSBW.

During National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes and awards outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from around the country. Additionally, recognition and educational events are held throughout the month of May.

Accomplished thirty-year financial leader David Dahn has joined Grovara as its Chief Financial Officer.

With a proven track record of delivering value for investors and shareholders, Dahn brings extensive experience in finance, accounting, tax, treasury, valuation, capital markets, and governance. He has primarily served technology companies and also has recent experience working in Better For You food and beverage.

“Joining this already highly skilled team I look forward to contributing to the growth and success of this coveted market-leading brand,” says Dahn.

Most recently, Dahn served as CFO for several early-stage companies in technology and healthcare, focused on capital markets, foundational financial structuring, investor relations, and business development. 

“We are confident he will be a perfect fit,” says Grovara Co-founder and CEO Abu Kamara. “I and our entire team have never been more excited about the future of this company.” 

Dahn brings a deep understanding of financial stewardship and how to establish frameworks for sound, growth-oriented management and oversight of company finances. He has significant experience in tax strategy, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, audit management, valuations, equity, fundraising, and internal controls. Dahn also brings key experience in managing international operations. A published writer, accomplished lecturer, and CPA, he earned his Masters in Taxation from Bentley College.

Working with leadership at Grovara at the earliest of stages at its inception, Dahn has a strong working knowledge of the product and market ready to put to work in his new role.

“He has been with us for eight-plus years as an Advisor. I can’t think of anyone better to fill this role. In fact it’s been a long time coming,” says Grovara Co-founder Peter Groverman. 



Sell sheets are a key tool for buyers and brands that build trust and enable informed decision-making. They are essentially advertisements for products that brands hope trigger a purchase in the hands of a prospective buyer. The sell sheet contains the most important initial product information that buyers can quickly review to determine whether they want to purchase. It’s almost like a scannable menu without the overload of every product or product attribute found in bulky product catalogs.

In export/import, accurate and accessible sell sheets can be even more important, considering most buyers and sellers won’t ever meet face-to-face early in the buying process.

Grovara has rolled out a new feature that enables buyers to easily build their own customizable sell sheets to make purchasing decisions. Grovara’s Sell Sheets solution makes the process entirely self-directed, efficient and automated, saving buyers – and brands – time and expense. 

Grovara’s Sell Sheets In Four Easy Steps

  1. Buyers can visit product pages on the Grovara Marketplace and add as many products from as many brands as they wish.
  2. Buyers access the sell sheet by clicking “View” once the products are added, or also “View Sell Sheet” in the left-hand navigation of their dashboard.
  3. Once buyers have built a sell sheet they like, they click “Download PDF.”
  4. Buyers can remove individual products or click “Remove All” to start from a blank slate to create a new sell sheet.

The downloaded PDF includes clickable links that direct buyers to product pages on the Grovara Marketplace, where they can access other key information about the product and brand. According to a recent survey, 45% of global B2B food and beverage buyers said they often find that product information is incorrect when making purchases. Via Grovara’s Sell Sheets, buyers are one click away from vetted and export-ready brands, product specs, label information, and more:

  • Product Image
  • Name and brief description of brand and product
  • HTS Code
  • Item Price
  • Case Price
  • Cases Per Layer
  • Shelf Life
  • Lead Time

Buyers can completely customize their sell sheet from the Grovara catalog and produce as many as they want. The functionality is built into each product page, which makes it easy to add to a sell sheet. One in three buyers are frustrated with functional elements when purchasing via ecommerce channels, like visibility of product features, making Grovara’s sell sheets and the rest of its first-to-market EXIM Platform and Marketplace essential for smart purchasing.

Forty-six brands available for import on the Grovara Marketplace will be at one of the most important better-for-you food events on the planet, Natural Foods Expo West, on March 7-11 in Anaheim, California. It’s the most brands from its catalog of leading natural and organic food and beverage products that have attended the event, a sign of Grovara’s rise as a global leader in digital trade and the leading innovator in the EXIM tech space.

The list of brands representing the Grovara Marketplace include some of the largest F&B manufacturers in the world, established better-for-you players and some of the most innovative up-and-coming brands who are taking over exciting new categories. 

More than ever, the focus of Expo West will be squarely on sustainability. A new report reveals that through the next five years, governance and cost will force brands and retailers to fully transform to “real, sustainable business models to mitigate short- and long-term risk,” according to a press release. Against the backdrop of supply chain disruptions, lingering inflation and cautious consumer spending, companies must retool for efficiency, flexibility and scalability.

Grovara’s B2B online Marketplace and global trading Platform streamline the many manual and fragmented steps of exporting with automated documentation and communications, data-driven insights and in-country expertise across key trade hubs worldwide. Grovara’s EXIM tech solution provides turnkey overseas distribution, enabling transactions in as little as seven total clicks, removing the risks and headaches associated with exporting and supercharging brand growth.

Here are maps, grouped according to venue location, of Grovara brands participating in Expo West, many of whom already have sustainable business models from local and organic sourcing to renewable energy use.



Grovara is partnering with BeanVivo to bring the power of its EXIM tech to the largest F&B sourcing event in the world. Gulfood 2023 is set for Feb. 20-24 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which will welcome 5,000 companies from more than 125 countries, and Grovara and BeanVivo will be demonstrating how others can follow their blueprint for global wholesale success.

For 28 years, Gulfood has united brands and buyers from all over the world. This year’s focus will be on those advancing the future of food and beverage and the role of technology. That’s not unlike how Grovara approaches its B2B online trading Platform and first-of-its-kind Marketplace, combining the latest data-driven technology and digital tools with in-country expertise and logistics support. Grovara is building the future of global EXIM, and it’s digital with a human touch, removing barriers to export for brands and reducing friction to purchase for retailers and distributors.

BeanVivo is one of the most promising plant-based brands around with a focus on nutrient-packed beans with Latin and Asian flavors. The company sources only organic and non-GMO beans and has enjoyed steady growth among domestic retailers with its high-protein, high-fiber and gluten-free packaged products. BeanVivo has earned a reputation for traceability and food transparency, building trust with consumers all over the world.

Gulfood marks the second trip Grovara and BeanVivo have made to the Middle East together. In November, BeanVivo was among 15 brands that traveled to Dubai and took part in Grovara Food Week, a curated and small-format event at Dubai Global Connect that is reinventing the trade show with precision buyer matching, expert panels and turnkey setup. BeanVivo proved incredibly popular among Middle Eastern retailers and is moving product to the region based on the buyer relationships to which Grovara connected them.

Gulfood’s 30-page research report on how F&B businesses are responding to challenges and looking to the future cites four key takeaways (report will be available at Gulfood 2023), including:

  • Inflation will be a concern that isn’t going away soon

  • Businesses are “crisis-hardened” and becoming effective at adapting and flexing operations

  • Disruption is the new normal and businesses must find opportunities to cash in

  • Health is wealth for business, as organic is the biggest opportunity in F&B in the next five years

Grovara streamlines the many manual and fragmented steps of EXIM by automating and managing documents and communications with intelligence-based tools on its trading Platform and by making purchasing on its Marketplace as easy as seven clicks.The efficiencies Grovara’s EXIM tech solution bring save money and time while driving growth and enabling brands and buyers to focus on their core business.

Buyers attending Gulfood interested in BeanVivo or purchasing on the Grovara Platform and Marketplace, please visit our booth in OTA/USA Pavillion S3-121 Sheik Saeed Hall 3. Buyers can also reach Grovara Sales Director Eugenie Schlitter on WhatsApp +52 5585335980 or schedule a meeting via Hubspot here.

 

Grovara, the exports and imports wholesale Marketplace for consumer brands, is now selling brands from Mexico as part of its curated catalog of leading better-for-you CPG products. Grovara is the only B2B online Marketplace in which brands from multiple countries can distribute internationally to more than 50 countries.

“The addition of brands from Mexico, a nation so strong in agriculture, food production and distribution, represents a milestone achievement driven by an incredibly strong, talented and close-knit team on the ground across the country and region,” says Grovara Co-Founder and CEO Abu Kamara. “It also makes us the first truly global-to-global Platform and Marketplace.”

Mexico is already the seventh-largest agricultural exporter in the world, and its leading food manufacturers are among the most respected anywhere. The new brands from Mexico on the Grovara Marketplace feature some of the country’s most popular and well-known food makers including: 

4Buddies – The company’s extraordinary health snacks are made with natural ingredients and are gluten-free with no added sugars, preservatives or trans fats. With highly developed flavor profiles, 4Buddies has created a devoted following.

Chipoys – A fast-emerging brand growing with effective marketing and bold snack flavors geared toward younger consumers.

IAmaranth – Company makes a wide array of amazing healthy snacks and it works directly with a community of local farmers, helping support local communities.

IAmaranth at Grovara Food Week in Dubai.

IAmaranth presented to buyers at Grovara Food Week at Dubai Global Connect.

Kante – Makers of the healthiest cooking oil consumers can add to their diet, Kante’s high quality and gourmet products are formulated for international palates and health-conscious shoppers.

San Miguel Foods – Committed to its land, countryside and people, this vertically integrated family-owned firm specializing in farming, manufacturing and sales and distribution has produced authentic, quality and natural Mexican products for more than 50 years.

Chipoys has previously exported to multiple countries, but saw an opportunity to utilize Grovara’s first-to-market, data-driven export/import Platform to streamline international distribution with document and supply chain management and in-country marketing and logistics support.

“No one has the combination of a North American-based staff with global relationships the way Grovara does,” says Michael Berro, CEO at TVG Products, maker of Chipoys. “We get to deal with people that are local, understand our business, and can help get Chipoys into dozens of countries that we would not even know how to approach.”

All of the brands from Mexico have received orders from distributors in the Middle East. Shared traits among the new brands is owning and operating their own manufacturing facilities, confidence exporting to major markets like the U.S., and the ability to deliver large volumes to major distributors around the world. 

“These brands already know the process of exporting and they know the standards involved,” says Grovara Global Brand Manager Lorena Colin. “Their purchasing power enables them to mitigate supply chain disruptions, and all these factors together make it easier for retailers to trust those brands.”

Leaders from San Miguel, 4Buddies and IAmaranth attended Grovara Food Week in December in Dubai for Grovara’s reinvention of the trade show. Grovara matched 150 buyers with 16 of its brands by curating the smaller-format, three-day interactive event, shepherding dozens of deals and millions in potential one-year business.

“The Middle East has always been an attractive market for us,” says Jesus Nuñez, Founder of Miraestels Foods, the maker of 4 Buddies. “With Grovara, exports have become much easier and we are hoping to enter new markets that we could not reach by ourselves.”

“Because of their brand and buyer development, sales and marketing, logistics and compliance, and of course technology, we trust we can succeed in the business opportunities they bring us.”

4Buddies at Grovara Food Week in Dubai.

4Buddies meets retailers at Grovara Food Week at Dubai Global Connect.

The combination of wealth and digital technology has made Dubai one of the most appealing international markets for selling better-for-you products. Oil flowing from processing facilities located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) generates wealth, and the Internet provides residents of Dubai with detailed information concerning the numerous health benefits of consuming organic food and beverage products. The question for your import company is not whether you should distribute natural food and beverage products in the most populous city in the UAE. Instead, the question is, how does your company form a strategy for importing natural/organic food and beverage products from the USA to Dubai?

Just as Dubai represents the ideal overseas market for your import company to target, the United States is the ideal location for starting conversations with brands that specialize in selling wellness products. Global buyers for the Dubai market focus on brands from the US for several reasons. One of the most important reasons for doing business with brands operating out of the USA concerns the strict quality and food safety standards implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). As an importer of healthy food and beverage products, you can count on USDA organic labeling standards to appeal to the discerning tastes of Dubai consumers.

How do you meet the challenges posed by doing business with organic food and beverage sellers from the USA? Gaining access to sellers from the US presents several challenges. The vast distance between Dubai and cities in the USA makes attending international trade shows cost prohibitive, as does trying to build strong, long-term relationships with individual brokers that have access to better-for-you brands.

Changing the way your company imports products to Dubai consumers is the answer.

Reach Dubai Consumers Through the Grovara eCommerce Platform

Since 2010, Philadelphia-based Grovara has helped overseas importers reach what was once difficult, if not impossible-to-reach overseas markets. Our revolutionary eCommerce platform contains a large database of exporters from the USA that offer the highest quality of organic food and beverage products. Every brand that registers for the Grovara eCommerce platform undergoes a comprehensive vetting process, which ensures your Dubai import company builds trade relationships with the best brands operating anywhere in the world.

Grovara has registered dozens of exporters to join our highly-rated eCommerce platform that offers hundreds of healthy food and beverage products. In less than a month, your company completes a free onboarding process that provides you with every tool you need to start conversations with natural food and beverage brands from the US. After you start a conversation with an exporter from the USA, you can process an order, verify payment arrangements, and handle fulfillment requests all on the same business day. Here is just s small sample of the brands that you can do business with by logging on to our eCommerce platform.

Register Your Import Company Today

Grovara offers much more than a self-service eCommerce platform for matching exporters with importers from Dubai. We also help your company get in front of every possible logistical issue that can put a damper on building long-lasting business relationships with brands located in the USA. Our proprietary tool, Pallet Builder, helps you maximize the space you have to ship organic food and beverage products thousands of miles from a US port to Dubai. Your company also gains access to the data generated by SPINS Analytics, which provides information regarding consumer trends and the economic conditions in the Dubai market.

Discover the best way of importing natural/organic food and beverage products from the USA to Dubai by submitting the convenient Contact form or by calling 215-207-0967.