The Group's footprint of 840 stores covers major metropolitan and rural areas in South Africa as well as neighbouring African countries.
Founded in Cape Town in 1934, Lewis Group has been listed on the JSE Limited since 2004. The Group employs over 9 000 permanent staff and is committed to promoting socio-economic change through its retail operations and supply chain being a strong supporter of the local furniture manufacturing sector.
Expanding brand portfolio
Over the past 15 years the Group has expanded its portfolio beyond the traditional Lewis chain by developing brands internally and acquiring established retail chains, while following a strategy of diversifying across income groups, market segments and product offering
Lewis is the country’s largest furniture chain with 492 stores and is a household name in furniture retailing.
Beares, a well respected brand with a history dating back 92 years, was acquired by the group in 2014 and currently has 151 stores.
Best Home and Electric was established in 2008 and sells home appliances as well as furniture ranges through 154 stores.
United Furniture Outlets (UFO) is a luxury brand cash furniture retailer which targets the higher income market. Established in 2004 and acquired by the group in 2018. UFO has a footprint of 43 stores in South Africa.
Lewis and Best Home and Electric target customers in the middle to lower income markets in the living standards measurement (LSM) 4 to 7 categories. Beares attracts customers in higher LSM (7–9) markets where the group has traditionally had limited exposure. UFO has a value offering to the upper income market, namely LSM 9+.
Monarch Insurance, the group’s insurance subsidiary, offers insurance cover to customers purchasing merchandise on credit.