Cornelis Muller, owner / founder of AKWA as we know it today, has come a long way, doing what started out mainly as a hobby, and turning it into a lifelong ambition! After matriculating in ’86, he enrolled at Rand Afrikaans University, to study B.Comm. Realising a degree would not satisfy his need “to do business”, he left after only 3 months study, and opened up a pet shop in Benoni called “Pet C
raft”! Making firsthand contact with the public, he could now determine the shortcomings of certain products, ……leading him into manufacturing in 1989! Doing well in the retail department, 4 years after opening the 1st shop, the 2nd shop was opened in Edenvale, extending the “Pet Craft” name. With plans to open the third shop, an unfortunate car accident in ‘91, landed him in hospital. This cost him 6 months of precious time, resulting in selling both shops to cover medical expenses! The manufacturing of various lighting systems for aquariums, kept him in the market, & working with one employee,…from his parent’s backyard,… out of a 12sqm “zozo” hut, supplying all his customers and delivering his own products under the name of “Aqua-Light”. Rapidly expanding his range of manufactured products, a workshop/factory of 100sqm was built next to his home in ’93. Deciding to broaden the product range, he started importing. New & innovative lines, was added to the manufactured product range. The name of the company had to change!
“ AKWA Pet Products” was born. AKWA grew steadily over the next few years, moving into 250sqm premises in ’96, & then into 500sqm in ’98. In the year 2000, our own factory building of 1200sqm was completed. However, this facility would soon be outgrown. Another building of 3600sqm had to be built, & was in full production in 2004. The new building was a huge challenge. All systems had to be improved to accommodate the handling of products on a larger scale. It took 2 years to finally reach a level of satisfaction. In 2006 AKWA launched an excited new range of products, both imported and manufactured on our premises. WE ARE NOW FLYING!
