Builders Warehouse

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Builders Warehouse
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Founded2003;22 years ago (2003) [1]
Headquarters Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa [2]
Number of locations
117 [3]
Area served
Southern Africa
East Africa [4]
Key people
Llewellyn Walters (CEO) [5]
Products Construction equipment
Building materials
Home improvement supplies
Plants
R1.18 billion (2022) [6]
Owner Massmart (subsidiary of Walmart) [6]
Website www.builders.co.za
Builders Warehouse signage Cape Town Builders Warehouse Signage in Kirstenhof, Cape Town.jpg
Builders Warehouse signage Cape Town
Aisles Near the entrance of a Builders Warehouse store, in Kirstenhof, Cape Town Aisles Near the Entrance of a Builders Warehouse Store, in Kirstenhof, Cape Town.jpg
Aisles Near the entrance of a Builders Warehouse store, in Kirstenhof, Cape Town

Builders Warehouse (commonly referred to as Builders in South Africa), is a South African construction equipment and home improvement retail chain. [4] [7]

Contents

Founded in 2003, [1] it is a wholly owned subsidiary of holding company Massmart (who itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of retail corporation Walmart), which, through its Massbuild division, operates various kinds of stores, including Builders Warehouse, Builders Express (small-format stores), Builders Trade Depot (focused specifically on construction entrepreneurs), and Builders Superstore. [8] [6] [9]

Operations

Builders Warehouse patio section Patio Section in a Builders Warehouse Store, in Kirstenhof, Cape Town.jpg
Builders Warehouse patio section

Builders Warehouse operates 117 [3] stores in 4 countries across Southern and East Africa; South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia. [4] It also provides an online shopping service. [10]

Some Builders Warehouse stores offer services such as tool hire, pool water analysis, and car key programming, and have partnered with local coffee chain Vida e Caffè. [11] [12]

History

Builders Warehouse paint display Paint Section in a Builders Warehouse Store, in Kirstenhof, Cape Town.jpg
Builders Warehouse paint display

Massmart began its acquisitions of the Builders brand when it acquired five Builders Warehouse stores operating in Johannesburg and Pretoria, in 2003. [2]

In May 2011, retail corporation Walmart acquired 51% of parent company Massmart Group's stock, at a value of R17 million (approximately US$2.54 billion or £1.54 billion), after receiving regulatory approval from the South African Competition Tribunal. By November 2020, Walmart had finalized the purchase of the remaining 49% of shares, making Massmart a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart. [13]

In 2017, the company revealed its first store that is in part powered by renewable energy. Located in Northriding, Johannesburg, the store uses 400 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels to provide 16% of its annual energy consumption. According to Massmart Group's sustainability manager Alex Haw, serves to reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions. [14]

In 2019, Builders Warehouse revealed a new store prototype in Boksburg, Gauteng, offering, among other things, 3D printing; flatpack furniture; and a smart home hub for digital, in-store shopping and retrieving product information. The store was to serve as a benchmark for all future new store builds and renovations. [12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Builders Warehouse". Political Analysis South Africa. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 "About Massbuild (Pty) Ltd". Top Media & Communications. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Builders Warehouse". Service Systems (Pty) Ltd. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Our story". Builders Warehouse. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  5. Creamer Media Reporter (13 June 2019). "Builders Warehouse opens flagship store in Boksburg". Creamer Media's Engineering News. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Staff Writer (7 March 2022). "Massmart reveals massive store expansion plans for Makro and Builder's Warehouse". BusinessTech. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  7. "Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021". Listcorp. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  8. "Our Brands". Massmart. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  9. "Builders Warehouse - Cape Town City". Life is a Garden. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  10. "Trade Card". Builders Warehouse. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  11. "Builders Extends Its Gauteng Footprint". Builders Warehouse. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Builders reveals new store prototype in Boksburg". Bizcommunity.com. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  13. "Wal-Mart Takes On Africa With Massmart". Forbes. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  14. Sibahle Malinga (23 May 2017). "Builders Warehouse opens 'green' store". ITWeb Limited. Retrieved 5 April 2025.