Cape Brick
Cape Brick is a family-owned Cape Town concrete brick and block manufacturer serving DIY customers, building contractors, and resellers across the Western Cape with an eight-product masonry range built primarily from recycled crushed aggregate.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1931
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cape Brick does
Cape Brick (Pty) Ltd is a Cape Town-based, family-owned concrete brick and block manufacturer founded in 1931 by James Edwin Gracie and Fasie Malherbe. The company operates two manufacturing facilities — its primary site in Philippi (expanded into new buildings in 2016) and a second factory in Blackheath established in 2014 — producing a portfolio of eight product categories that includes standard bricks, maxis, dumpies, hollow and solid blocks, coloured blocks, U-blocks, retaining-wall blocks, and precast steps and seating units.
Cape Brick's underlying production technology is built around the use of recycled crushed aggregate (RCA) sourced from demolished reinforced concrete structures, a process it pioneered in 2001 and now applies across up to 60% of the content in its core masonry products. Manufacturing incorporates a Kraft curing system installed in 2016, automated packing lines at both factories (2017 and 2019), and Mywood UP composite production boards added in 2018 — investments aimed at improving curing quality, dimensional accuracy, and throughput. Products comply with SANS 1215 (concrete bricks) and SANS 10145 (joint spacing) standards, and Cape Brick is the only brick manufacturer approved by EcoSpecifier SA as environmentally friendly.
The revenue model is a one-time sale of physical concrete masonry products at quote-based unit pricing, distributed through three channels: direct sales from the Philippi sales office to DIY customers and homeowners, direct B2B supply to building contractors across the Western Cape, and a reseller/distributor network spanning the South Peninsula, Strand, Stellenbosch, and Northern Suburbs. The company is privately held under third-generation Gracie family ownership, with no external funding or public listing signals.
Cape Brick firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cape Brick
- Legal name
- Cape Brick (Pty) Ltd
- Website
- https://capebrick.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1931
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Cape Brick is a family-owned Cape Town concrete brick and block manufacturer serving DIY customers, building contractors, and resellers across the Western Cape with an eight-product masonry range built primarily from recycled crushed aggregate.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cape Brick industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Concrete Masonry Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing (327331), Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing (3273), Other Concrete Product Manufacturing (32739)
- SIC
- Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products (3270), Concrete Products, Except Block & Brick (3272)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) & Concrete Blocks (IMADABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Recycled Aggregates & C&D Materials Processing (RCA, RAP, Glass Aggregate) (IMAKAHAI), Concrete, Cement & Aggregates Retail (Bagged Mix, Sand, Gravel) (CRAIAEAG)
Keywords
Where Cape Brick is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cape Brick business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Concrete Masonry Products Sales: Cape Brick generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of concrete bricks, blocks, and retaining wall products. Products are sold directly to homebuilders/DIY customers, building contractors, and through a network of building material resellers and hardware distributors across Cape Town and the Western Cape.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for all product categories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cape Brick product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cape Brick manufactures and sells concrete masonry products including bricks, maxis, dumpies, blocks, coloured blocks, U-blocks, retaining wall blocks, and precast concrete steps and seating. Products are made using up to 60% recycled crushed aggregate sourced from demolished reinforced concrete structures, and are produced at two factories in Philippi and Blackheath, Cape Town, serving homebuilders, building contractors, and resellers across the Western Cape.
Product overview
Cape Brick offers a unified portfolio of concrete masonry products for the construction industry. The core product line consists of eight distinct product categories: Bricks (standard concrete bricks to SANS 1215 standards), Maxis (larger format bricks for faster construction), Dumpies (economical bricks for cost-sensitive projects), Blocks (solid and hollow concrete blocks for structural applications), Coloured Blocks (decorative blocks with integrated color), U-Blocks (U-shaped blocks for lintels and reinforced beams), Retainers (interlocking retaining wall blocks for erosion control and landscaping), and Steps & Seating (precast concrete elements for outdoor spaces). Products are manufactured using recycled materials (up to 60% recycled content) and are distributed through direct sales to homeowners, building contractors, and resellers/distributors across the Western Cape.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bricks High-quality concrete bricks manufactured to SANS 1215 standards, offering strength, durability, and consistent dimensions for reliable building performance. Made with up to 60% recycled materials.
- Maxis Maxi bricks designed for speed and efficiency, reducing mortar use and speeding up wall construction. Ideal for affordable housing, extensions, and large-scale developments, delivering exceptional strength while lowering environmental impact.
- Dumpies Versatile and economical dumpie bricks for boundary walls, infill, and non-load-bearing structures. Manufactured to high standards, combining consistent quality with competitive pricing.
- Blocks Solid and hollow concrete blocks for load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls, retaining structures, and commercial developments. Engineered for strength, stability, and energy efficiency.
- Coloured Blocks Coloured concrete blocks for feature walls, landscaping, and decorative facades. Available in a variety of shades with built-in colour that won't fade over time.
- U-Blocks U-shaped concrete blocks precision-made for creating lintels, ring beams, and reinforced concrete elements. Simplify construction, reduce waste, and provide consistent sizing.
- Retainers (Retaining Wall Blocks) Strong, interlocking, and easy-to-install retaining wall blocks providing practical solutions for supporting soil, creating terraces, and preventing erosion. Ideal for residential gardens and large-scale civil works.
- Steps & Seating Precast concrete steps and seating units for landscaping, public areas, and recreational spaces. Designed to withstand weather and heavy use, blending seamlessly into modern or traditional environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Uses approximately 70,000 tons of recycled materials per year, equivalent to 4,800 truck loads of material
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cape Brick
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cape Brick technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cape Brick partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO)minorProud member of CGSO (Consumer Goods and Services Ombud). The company upholds the Consumer Goods and Services Industry Code, demonstrating commitment to ethical business practices and consumer protection standards.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cape Brick competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lafarge South Africa: Major cement and aggregate producer with national South African coverage, supplying ready-mix concrete and aggregates to the same construction value chain. Comparable as a large incumbent in cement-based building materials competing for adjacent (aggregate, ready-mix) and overlapping (block) share.
- Corobrik: South Africa's largest brick manufacturer, primarily producing clay bricks. Comparable as the dominant masonry supplier to Cape Town and broader South African construction, and competes for the same residential and commercial masonry specification decisions; differentiated by clay rather than concrete production.
Regional players
- Stander Bricks: Concrete brick manufacturer operating in a different South African region with a comparable product mix of concrete bricks and blocks for residential and commercial construction, competing for similar building contractor customers.
- Algoa Brick: Concrete brick manufacturer based in the Eastern Cape. Comparable as a regional concrete masonry producer with overlapping product categories (bricks and blocks) serving the same building contractor and DIY customer segments, though operating in a different South African geography.
- Kulu Brick: Concrete brick manufacturer serving the South African construction market with comparable concrete masonry products, serving the same homebuilder/contractor/reseller customer ecosystem in a different region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cape Brick social profiles
Digital presenceCape Brick compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Cape Brick financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cape Brick leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Cape Brick funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cape Brick M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cape Brick
What does Cape Brick do?
Cape Brick manufactures and sells concrete masonry products including bricks, maxis, dumpies, blocks, coloured blocks, U-blocks, retaining wall blocks, and precast concrete steps and seating. Products are made using up to 60% recycled crushed aggregate sourced from demolished reinforced concrete structures, and are produced at two factories in Philippi and Blackheath, Cape Town, serving homebuilders, building contractors, and resellers across the Western Cape.
Is Cape Brick a public or private company?
Cape Brick is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cape Brick founded?
Cape Brick was founded in 1931. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Cape Brick based?
Cape Brick is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Cape Brick make money?
One revenue line is on record: concrete Masonry Products Sales.
Who are Cape Brick's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lafarge South Africa and Corobrik. Regional players are Stander Bricks, Algoa Brick and Kulu Brick.
Does Cape Brick have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cape Brick.
What industry is Cape Brick in?
Cape Brick's product category is Concrete Masonry Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADABAB, Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) & Concrete Blocks, with a secondary code of IMAKAHAI, Recycled Aggregates & C&D Materials Processing (RCA, RAP, Glass Aggregate). Its NAICS code is 327331 and its SIC code is 3270.