90 Years Young – Cape Bag Group Looks to the Future with Pride and Purpose
The Cape Bag Group, one of South Africa’s most established packaging manufacturers and distributors, is celebrating a rare milestone: 90 years in business.
Founded on June 20, 1935, by the Seidel family, the business began with a simple trade, repairing and reselling hessian sacks collected from ships in Cape Town harbour. From that humble beginning, Cape Bag Group has grown into a multi-division entity comprising Cape Bag, Cape Bulk Bags, Cape Twines & Packaging, and Elshamar, employing over 300 people and offering more than 800 products.
Today, the group services key industries such as agriculture, mining, milling, chemicals, fishing, and retail, supplying industrial packaging, twines, and ropes across Southern Africa. While each company plays a unique role, they are united by a single mission: to serve the market with consistency, innovation, and trust.
“Our vertical integration into manufacturing has been a game-changer,” says Group MD Rob Uys, who leads the business today. “It gave us more control, better speed, and a platform for continuous innovation.”
But Cape Bag Group’s success isn’t only about systems it’s about people. The group has earned a reputation for extraordinary staff loyalty. More than 25 employees have served over 20 years, and Paul Alperstein, Sales Director at Cape Twines & Packaging, is in his 43rd year with the company. “We’ve built more than a workforce we’ve built a family,” Uys says.
To mark its 90-year milestone, Cape Bag Group hosted internal celebrations across all factories, recognising every staff member’s contribution. “This company doesn’t run without them,” Uys adds.
Looking ahead, the Group continues to invest in technology, manufacturing, and infrastructure, while Elshamar manages its expanding property footprint across the Western Cape. A robust international sourcing network and integrated group-wide systems keep the business agile, even as it scales.
“We’re not afraid of change,” says Uys. “We’re curious, and we move fast when our customers need us to.”
That ability to adapt has kept Cape Bag Group relevant across generations. But at its core, the group remains grounded in values that haven’t changed since 1935: trust, respect, and a commitment to getting the job done right.
To long-time clients and new partners alike, Cape Bag Group offers something rare in today’s business landscape: a 90-year track record backed by a future-focused mindset. “We’re not just a supplier,” says Uys. “We’re a trusted partner and we plan to keep it that way for the next 90 years.”
