Adventurer : Anthony Pile
Baroudeur 2023
Anthony Pile (aka Harriet’s Dad) is one of the boldest risk-takers we know, and his story is a constant reminder that the most meaningful adventures often come when you take a leap of faith. In his middle years, Anthony wasn’t exactly what you’d call a ‘model employee.’ His free spirit and ambitious drive saw him continuously sacked by bosses who couldn’t quite contain him. But the last time it happened, instead of folding, Anthony decided to turn their criticism into his greatest strength.
Told to go away and do some “blue sky thinking,” he did exactly that—but on his own terms. At 50 years old, with his house and financial security on the line, Anthony set out to revolutionize an entire industry. At a time when fresh tropical fruits like mangoes and pineapples were shipped from Africa to the UK for processing, Anthony had a different vision. He built the first fruit processing factory directly in Ghana, closer to the farms, despite being told repeatedly that it would never work.
The result? He not only proved his critics wrong but reshaped the industry. His innovation created thousands of jobs in Ghana, reduced production costs, and gave local farmers better wages and long-term prospects. Today, his company—Blue Skies—employs thousands across the UK, West and South Africa, South America, and Europe, earning him an MBE and countless international development and sustainability awards.
But for us, it’s not just his achievements that matter—it’s the spirit behind them.
We’re inspired by Anthony’s willingness to risk everything for what he believed in. His resilience, creativity, and unshakable belief in doing things differently fuel our own humbler adventure here in the South of France. We’ll be the first to admit that we don’t have the guts to take risks on the scale Anthony did, but we’re constantly inspired by his example. At nearly 80, his spirit is as strong as ever, reminding us that it’s never too late to dream big or start something new.
Having Anthony’s story tied to one of our bottles is a tribute to that spirit. It’s a reminder to keep thinking beyond what’s possible, to take risks when they matter, and to never be afraid of failure. Because, after all, the best adventures are the ones where you dare to go off the map. And we think it’s pretty incredible that Anthony – together with his incredibly strong and skillful partner, Jenny – did all this when most people would be thinking about retirement.