Louis Group International

The Louis family's history in business dates back to 1914 when the Great War caused Salim Louis and his brother Michel to emigrate to South Africa and establish their business in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as general wholesale merchants. They purchased an historic building at 80 Church Street, Bloemfontein, which is still owned by the Group and is regarded as the foundation of its property-based enterprise.

By 1950, the Louis family business had grown into one of the largest wholesale merchants in South Africa. In 1959, the next Louis generation advanced the business when Colia Louis, Salim's son, bought his first building and thus commenced the transition into the property investment and administration business. As Colia's five sons graduated in their various professions, they all in turn joined forces with their father in expanding the property enterprise.

The Louis family, by then styled the 'Louis Group', relocated its headquarters to Cape Town in 1994 and his son Alan, who had served in the business since 1988, lead as CEO while Colia retained the role of chairman. In 2001, Alan expanded the Group in Europe. The Group currently serves its clients from its offices in South Africa, England, Isle of Man and Switzerland, with extensive operations in Germany and Namibia.

The Louis family have consistently applied the principles of Christian and family values upon which all their entrepreneurial interests are founded. The family's relationship-minded and solution-driven approach has led to the extension of the Group's interests to property, financial services, technology, hotel ownership and management, table grape and wine farming, and venture capital.

In South Africa, Louis Group's achievements have been recognised in South Africa's Top National Companies. Over and above the recognition of its commercial achievement, the Group has also been featured in Best Companies to Work for in South Africa, which confirms that the 'family feel' of the Group has a consistently positive impact on its employees. The Corporate Research Foundation also awarded the Chairman and CEO the No. 1 Executive Management Team (2008/2009) and in the same year the No. 1 Best Managed Company in the Real Estate Sector.

Its extensive financial and time investment in corporate social activities have also been recognised when Louis Group Chairman, Colia Louis, was presented with the prestigious Social Impact Leadership Award for 2011 by the University of Stellenbosch Business School.

As Louis Group approaches the significant milestone of a 100 years in business, it has also deliberately and successfully made the transition from a family business to a well-developed corporate enterprise.