Taste buys Arthur Kaplan Jewellers

L - R: Carlo Gonzaga, CEO Taste Holdings, Dean Divaris, MD Arthur Kaplan Jewellers and Duncan Crosson, CEO Taste Jewellery Division

Taste Holdings CEO Carlo Gonzaga said Arthur Kaplan's "affluent aspirational" target market complemented Taste's view that competing in the upper income consumer market had to be done via the best brands in their categories.

In the year to June 2014, Arthur Kaplan reported R224,3 million in sales and adjusted profit after tax of R12,4 million.

AKJ Holdings (Pty) Ltd owns and operates 10 Arthur Kaplan branded outlets and one World's Finest Watches outlet in major South African shopping centres. In the past 40 years, the group has established a reputation in the retail watch market as stockists of premium luxury brands including Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Tag Heuer and Longines. Since the World's Finest Watches' opening in Sandton in 2002, the store has established itself as a specialist prestige watch boutique.

"Arthur Kaplan is a leader in the luxury Swiss watch segment in South Africa and Taste currently manages more than 25 watch brands in its existing jewellery business NWJ and retails these in 80 southern African locations," he said.

Expansive potential

Arthur Kaplan retails luxury fine jewellery in collections under its own brand with a focus on engagement and bridal pieces.

While not Arthur Kaplan's current dominant revenue category, this jewellery offering represents 40% of the revenue in its stores. The jewellery range is aligned to Taste's current manufacturing capability and Gonzaga believes there is potential to grow the Arthur Kaplan jewellery offerings and its revenue contribution.

This included growing the South African store numbers and satisfying the demand for luxury Swiss watches in sub-equatorial Africa.

"This market is currently underserved by dedicated retail offerings and the African focus and opportunity is aligned with that of the broader Taste group," Gonzaga said.

Behind the Arthur Kaplan brand

Arthur Kaplan entered the family business, a Pretoria-based jewellery store his grandfather had established in 1889, as an 18-year-old. In 1973, after working in the business for 15 years, he opened his own jewellery store, thus launching the Arthur Kaplan brand.

In terms of the deal, Dean Divaris from whose family trust Taste was purchasing a portion of the shares and who had been leading Arthur Kaplan for the past 14 years, would remain employed by the company and remain in his current role as managing director.

Gonzaga said Divaris would continue driving the business expansion in line with a shared growth plan developed between Taste and himself.