Early Life and Education
Christoffel Hendrik Wiese was born in Upington, South Africa, on September 10, 1941. His father was a sheep and cattle farmer who also owned a car dealership. Wiese attended Paarl Boys' High School and later studied at Stellenbosch University, earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1967.
Rise to Success
Wiese began his career in the family's discount clothing chain, Pepkor, in 1967 and later became the chairman in 1981. Under his leadership, Pepkor expanded significantly. A key milestone was the acquisition of Shoprite, which Wiese transformed from a small chain of eight supermarkets into a multibillion-dollar retail empire. He grew Shoprite into the largest retailer in Africa, with over 2,900 stores.
Key Business Strategies
Wiese's business strategy focused on offering low prices to customers. He expanded the company through strategic acquisitions and expansion across Africa. Wiese also diversified his investments into other sectors, including British companies.
Philanthropy
The search did not reveal specific philanthropy amounts, but Christoffel Wiese's contributions to job creation are significant. Wiese has positively impacted thousands of people in South Africa and across the African continent through Shoprite.