1. Trade Profile | History | 2017/2018
Publication date:
May 2018
Next publication:
May 2019
Trade Profile | History | 2017/2018

2. History Year Event 1970 The first Game store opens in Durban
The first Dion store opened in Yeoville by entrepreneur Dion Friedland
1971
Makro Germiston opens as a partnership between Dutch Group SHV & Rennies. This was the first mass merchandise cash & carry store in South Africa
Makro operates on a two-card system whereby traders were issued with a general 'passport' affording them access to the entire store, while non-food customers make use of a non-food 'passport' giving them access to non-food and liquor merchandise only
1973
Shield Buying & Distribution is incorporated by its four founding members
1974
The Makro Dutch SHV management team is replaced by a Rennies team
1980’s
Makro removes the barriers between food and non-food purchasing
1990
Massmart is founded, with Makro (6 stores), Massmart’s multi chain, organic and acquisitive growth strategy is formulated
1992
Massmart acquires Shield (with 378 members) as well as Drop Inn
1993
Makro acquires Dion (20 stores)
1996
SHV increases its shareholding with a sale of 25% of Massmart to SHV
1997
Massmart acquires Makro franchisee in Zimbabwe
1998
Massmart acquires Game (26 stores)
Massmart acquires 51% of CCW (14 stores)

3. History
Year
Event
1999
Massdiscounters is formed to integrate and rationalise Dion and Game
2000
Massmart is listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange
2001
Massmart acquires Jumbo (6 stores), a wholesale cash & carry family business
2002
Massmart acquires wholesaler Browns and Weirs (22 stores)
The Massmart Group is restructured into four divisions. Furnex is acquired (390 members)
Wooltru unbundles its 41% shareholding in Massmart
2003
Massmart integrates Furnex into Masstrade, Massmart’s voluntary buying association division
Builders Warehouse (5 outlets) and Tile Warehouse (4 outlets) are acquired
2004
Massmart acquires three independent cash and carry businesses with CBW (9 stores)
SHV sells its 31% shareholding in Massmart
2005
Massmart acquires De Lay Rey (3 stores), Servistar (14 stores) and Federated Timber (34 stores)
Builders Warehouse and Tile Warehouse, together with De Lay Rey, Servistar and Federated Timber, are restructured to form a new division of Massmart division called Massbuild
Game Kampala in Uganda is opened in June
Game Maputo opens in December
2006
In February, Massmart sells Furnex to a consortium
2007
DionWired is launched
Masscash Retail Cash & Carry division is launched

4. History
Year
Event
2008
Massmart acquires Cambridge Foods (6 stores) in December
2009
Massmart acquires Buildrite (3 stores) in June
2010
Walmart expresses a non-binding interest in buying 51% of Massmart
2011
In June shareholders and the competition commission approve Walmart’s acquisition of 51% of Massmart
Massmart achieves level 3 BBBEE rating
2012
Massmart acquires Fruitspot in January and Rhino Cash & Carry in March
Following an appeal to the Competition Commission the Walmart-Massmart merger is finally finalised - Competition Appeal Court approves Massmart-Walmart merger on 9 March 2012
2013
Massmart acquires seven Makro stores
Robin Wright appointed as Divisional Chief Executive of Massdiscounters in June 2013
2014
Grant Pattison resigns as CEO of Massmart and is replaced by Guy Hayward
Mark Lamberti resigns as Non-Executive Chairman of the Massmart board, he is replaced by Kuseni Dlamini
2015
Johannes van Lierop appointed Chief Financial Officer March 2015
Makro launches Click-and-Collect locker system
Jane Bruyns joins executive committee in May 2015 as Group Human Capital Executive
Massmart opens 400th store
Gerhard Hayes joins Massmart as the Group Financial Services Executive in October 2015

5. History Year Event Makro opens 20th store 2016
Albert Voogt appointed as Divisional Chief Executive of Massdiscounters in August 2016
2017
Builders Warehouse North Riding opens green store, powered by renewable energy
Makro launches a loyalty rewards programme called mRewards
Massmart launches a first of its kind Urban Bookshelf in Orland Soweto
Team Massmart Athletics Club launched promoting women athletics
Makro Springfield revamp complete – with roll out of solar panels
Makro acquires majority stake in last-mile delivery start-up Wumdrop
Flagship store of the 21st century Makro Riversands opens doors on 29th November
Makro Marketplace launched
2018
Competition Tribunal has dismissed a claim brought by Massmart accusing SA Grocery Retailers of anti- competitive behaviour in malls
Global Gold Award: Department Store: Makro Riversands voted Retail Shop  of the year in 2018

6. Maryla Masojada | Head Analyst Tarryn Butler | Senior Retail Analyst