History

Our journey can be traced back to 1860 when our founder, Samuel Crookes – a wheelwright from Finningley in Yorkshire, England, arrived in Port Natal.

More than half a century later, his sons – George, Fred and John – incorporated the company, paving the way for the company’s listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1948. Since then, we have grown to become one of South Africa’s most successful and entrepreneurial food production companies, delivering returns to our shareholders, while contributing positively to society.

  1. 1860

    Samuel Crookes arrives at Port Natal.

    1866

    Samuel Crookes establishes a sugar mill.

    1895

    Samuel Crookes & Sons partnership is formed.

  2. 1913

    Crookes Brothers Limited is incorporated.

    1948

    Renishaw mill from air.

  3. 1957

    Acquisition of Crookes Plantations sugar cane and citrus farms at Big Bend, Swaziland.

    1978

    Acquisition of sugar cane farms in the vicinity of Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal.

    1989

    Acquisition of farms in the Komatipoort area of the Mpumalanga province.

    1992

    Acquisition of the first deciduous fruit farm in the Vyeboom area of the Western Cape.

  4. 2012

    Acquisition of the lease of 3 000 hectares of irrigable land for macadamia cultivation near Gurue in northern Mozambique.

    2016

    Initiation of Mawecro joint venture on Komati farms. Start of first phase property development at Renishaw.

    2021

    Spluma approval received for Node 3 of Renishaw Coastal Precinct.