Valleybrook Gardens Ltd. in Abbotsford, BC has been sold.
Announced by John Schroeder, founder and CEO of the Valleybrook Group of companies, shares of the company were purchased by Josami Holdings Ltd., a family-owned business newly incorporated by Joe Abi-Ad.
Abi-Ad has had over four years of experience as CFO of Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Ltd., a plant producer and broker based in Schomberg, Ont. He helped negotiate the acquisition of Valleybrook Gardens Ontario back in 2017.
“When my wife Kelly and I started in the nursery industry 40 years ago as a newly married young couple, we didn’t know what the future held,” says Schroeder. “What we did know was that we would only be satisfied by producing the highest quality plant material, and that innovative marketing and branding was going to be a key to success. We had always expected that this would create the value which would allow us some day to sell our company, so it could continue on after us.”
Valleybrook Gardens BC will continue to produce several brands under licence from Valleybrook International Ventures, Inc., which continues to be held by the Schroeder family. These include Heritage Perennials, the blue pots, Jeepers Creepers, Backyard Fresh and Rock Stars.
“The nursery has an excellent reputation, an experienced management team, and a loyal workforce and customer base,” says Schroeder. “We found a buyer who values what we have built, and who plans to build on that foundation together with our existing staff and management. After 40 years at the helm, this was a perfect opportunity for us to move on to new adventures.”
For Abi-Ad, this is an opportunity to take the next step and run his own company. “I look forward to continuing the legacy built by the Schroeder family in this well-managed business,” says Abi-Ad. “The Valleybrook brands have always differentiated themselves from others through their exceptional quality, thus making the company a highly attractive acquisition target. We will continue to provide the highest quality plants and best service to our customers.”
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