( CNN ) Golden beaches and grand hotels can all be found in Mauritius , but there is much more to this island paradise . The country , located some 500 miles east of Madagascar , has been attracting global investors for decades . But there is also a healthy local appetite for business development -- one of the many reasons the country has been hailed as an African success story . One company demonstrating this entrepreneurial drive is fresh food suppliers SKC Surat . `` My father Sooklall Surat , started as a farmer with one hectare of land , '' says Suren Surat , who is now CEO of the company his father founded sixty years ago . `` The land was next to our house , where we lived . My father was the first grower at that time , the pioneer for growing strawberries and artichokes in Mauritius . '' Suren Surat has been part of the company from the beginning . The family had enough offspring to start a cricket squad , but the team dedicated its efforts towards business success . As a kid , Surat would get up early to help his father on the small farm before going to school . `` Whatever he was growing , people were coming to buy in our garden , wholesale ... So my father decided to go retail , '' Surat remembers . Shift to retail . The family 's first stall was in Curepipe market in the country 's highest town . It was here , not far from the famous extinct volcanic crater `` Trou aux Cerfs '' , that the family business started to really grow . Lychees , pineapple and mangoes all bloom in Mauritius ' tropical climate , but the weather stops oranges , apples , and plums from sprouting . When Sooklall Surat started importing foreign fruit , others followed suit . Import/Export . Sooklall 's brother Shyam focused on selling fresh produce from abroad , attracting customers with foreign tastes . He built a busy operation , but the fast flow of goods did n't stop the family monitoring the fruits and vegetables . `` We say you need to be able to talk to the fresh produce -- this is the success of the business , '' says Suren Surat . 'Work is work ' Estimates say the Mauritian economy grew by 3.5 % in 2014 and will top 4 % in 2015 -- impressive statistics in a country which the World Bank says does a better job of supporting business than Japan , France and Spain . In such a competitive market , guts , good relations and hard work are essential . Suren says that the business keeps the family together , with different members taking control of areas like import and distribution . `` We 've seen many local companies , Mauritius companies , who are family business who split , '' says Suren Surat . `` But luckily I have to say our grandparents , our mother , father have taught us how to manage . '' The company 's next leaders will have to do more than manage the fresh produce . Recently , the family started the islands ' first dairy , and is soon to open its sixth supermarket franchise . It 's all part of the strategy to keep things fresh on the island that is home to over 1.3 million people . `` The future is very very important , '' says Shyam Surat . `` I would advise any people , mainly in Africa or this part of the islands , to grow more fruit and veggies . And this is the future because people have to eat . '' More from Marketplace Africa . Read this : Top 10 : Africa 's 'Cities of Opportunity ' Read this : South Africa 's plums blossom into big business . Editor 's Note : CNN Marketplace Africa covers the macro trends impacting the region and also focuses on the continent 's key industries and corporations .
CNN ' fresh fruit and veg market leader started on a small hold farm . These days the firm 's distribution center can hold 1,300 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables . The family started the islands ' first dairy , and will open its sixth supermarket franchise .