Valleybrook Gardens sold to Josami Holdings

John Schroeder, founder and CEO of the Valleybrook Group of companies, announced the sale of Valleybrook Gardens Ltd., located in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The shares of the company were purchased by Josami Holdings Ltd., a family-owned company newly incorporated by Joe Abi-Ad. This transaction follows the sale of Valleybrook Gardens (Ontario, Canada) Ltd. two years ago.

“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,” Schroeder said. “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.”

Heritage Perennials, the blue pots, Jeepers Creepers, Backyard Fresh and Rock Stars are some of the plant brands which the nursery will continue to produce under license from Valleybrook International Ventures, Inc., which continues to be held by the Schroeder family.

“The nursery has an excellent reputation, an experienced management team, and a loyal workforce and customer base,” Schroeder said. “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.”

Joe Abi-Ad has over four years of experience in the industry as the CFO of a large Canadian nursery and sees this as 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,” Abi-Ad said. “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.”