Massmart began its acquisitions of the Builders brand when it acquired five Builders Warehouse stores operating in
Johannesburg and
Pretoria, in 2003. In May 2011, Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer
Walmart acquired 51% of parent company Massmart Group's stock, at a value of R17 million (approximately US$2.54 billion or £1.54 billion), after receiving regulatory approval from the South African Competition Tribunal. By November 2020, Walmart had finalized the purchase of the remaining 49% of shares, making Massmart a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart. In 2017, the company revealed its first store that is in part powered by
renewable energy. Located in
Northriding, Johannesburg, the store uses 400 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels to provide 16% of its annual energy consumption. According to Massmart Group's sustainability manager Alex Haw, serves to reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, Builders Warehouse revealed a new store prototype in
Boksburg,
Gauteng, offering, among other things, 3D printing; flatpack furniture; and a smart home hub for digital, in-store shopping and retrieving product information. The store was to serve as a benchmark for all future new store builds and renovations. == Operations==