Reynolds Brothers Limited is listed as a public company and Charles George (CG) Smith, a local entrepreneur, is appointed as its agent in Durban. This sparks the genesis of CG Smith Sugar.

C.G. Smith becomes a shareholder in Reynolds Brothers.

The Umzimkulu Mill joins the Smith fold.

Reynolds Brothers opens the Sezela mill; and Natal Cane By-Products Limited (now Illovo Merebank) is listed as a public company.

The Illovo Mill, just south of Durban, is the first in South Africa to operate a refinery.

The year of the “Sugar Wars”, involving a consortium of CG Smith and Company, Reynolds Brothers Limited, Tongaat Sugar, Crookes Brothers and Gledhow-Chaka’s Kraal, which takes a controlling interest in Sir JL Hulett and Sons.

The CG Smith Group’s sugar interests are merged into CG Smith Sugar Limited.

CG Smith Sugar Limited acquires the Illovo Group from Tate and Lyle.

CG Smith Sugar Limited celebrates its centenary.

CG Smith Sugar is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), and the company acquires the Umfolozi sugar mill.

The company name is changed to Illovo Sugar Limited to identify with the Illovo brand of sugars and syrup.

Illovo acquires a 50% stake in Maragra Açúcar SA in Mozambique.

Illovo acquires Lonrho Sugar Corporation Limited, with sugar assets in Malawi, Eswatini, Mauritius and South Africa.

Illovo acquires a 55% stake in Kilombero Sugar Company in Tanzania.

Illovo sells its Mauritian interests and acquires a controlling interest in Zambia Sugar Plc.

Associated British Foods plc., a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, acquires a 51% controlling stake in Illovo.

The major cane and factory expansion of the Nakambala sugar mill in Zambia, which results in a doubling of annual sugar production to more than 400 000 tons, is successfully commissioned.

The South African business is re-structured and its relevant assets transferred to a wholly-owned subsidiary, Illovo Sugar (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd.

The successful commisioning of Ubombo’s major factory expansion and co-generation project in Eswatini.

The new South African warehouse is officially opened in Pietermaritzburg and Kilombero’s new distillery is commissioned.

Illovo Sugar Limited becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of ABF.

Zambia Sugar commissions its sugar capacity expansion project which includes the construction of a high-specification refinery to more than double annual refined sugar production capacity to around 100 000.

Illovo Sugar Limited adopts the name change to Illovo Sugar Africa (Pty) Ltd, and the Group embarks upon on a significant market-focused drive to become a consumer facing organisation.

Illovo launches the Group-wide Fit4Future initiative focused on addressing the Group’s cost base and driving efficiency improvements along the entire value chain.

The Group re-aligns its operating model in support of its strategy to become a more local and regional, consumer-centric business.

Illovo acquires a further 20% interest in Kilombero Sugar Corporation Limited to bring its total holdings in the company to 75%, with the balance of the shares owned by Government of Tanzania.

Maragra Açúcar SA in Mozambique is recapitalised representing a significant vote of confidence in the business and its continued growth opportunities in the Manhica district.

Illovo Sugar Africa notches up 130-years of sugar cane and downstream products manufacture; and at the same time, announces approval of the Kilombero expansion project in Tanzania which at +R3bn, is the Group’s biggest-ever expansion project to date.