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Stewart Cohen

Retail founder

By South African Index Editorial Desk · Published · Updated · Last reviewed

Archival photograph of Mr Price co-founders Stewart Cohen and Laurie Chiappini.
Portrait: Mr Price Group; photographer not credited · Source. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.

Stewart Cohen co-founded Mr Price with Laurie Chiappini. The pair met in 1979 and opened the first Mr Price Factory Shop in Klerksdorp in 1985. [1][2]

Biography

Mr Price’s company history says Cohen and Chiappini met while working at separate clothing retailers in 1979 and developed a shared retail vision. [1]

They opened the first Mr Price Factory Shop in Klerksdorp in 1985. The business grew around a value-retail proposition. [1][2]

In 1991 Cohen and Chiappini acquired control of the group from BOE. Mr Price’s later reporting continues to identify them both as the group’s founders. [2]

The FY2026 governance report records Cohen’s retirement from the board in August 2025. His founding contribution remains distinct from a continuing board or executive role. [5]

The two founders’ anniversary message emphasises trust, communication and recognition. It describes the culture they sought to create for employees as partners in the retail business. [3]

Key contributions

Co-founded Mr Price and opened the first factory shop in 1985. [1]

Acquired control of the group with Laurie Chiappini in 1991. [2]

Life and career timeline

  1. Met Laurie Chiappini and began developing the business concept. [1]

  2. Opened the first Mr Price Factory Shop in Klerksdorp. [1]

  3. Acquired control of the group from BOE with Chiappini. [2]

  4. Retired from the board, as recorded in the FY2026 governance report. [5]

Frequently asked questions

Did Stewart Cohen found Mr Price?

Yes. The company identifies Stewart Cohen and Laurie Chiappini as the two founders of the retail concept. [4]

Does a founder title establish current ownership control?

No. A historical founding role is different from equity ownership, voting rights and an executive or board appointment. [5]

Related people

  • Laurie Chiappini — South African retailer who co-founded Mr Price with Stewart Cohen and opened the first Mr Price Factory Shop in 1985.

Associated organisations

Related research

Sources

  1. Mr Price Group, The Mr Price Story: 40th Birthday. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  2. Mr Price Group, Integrated Report 2021, 2021-04-03. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  3. Mr Price Group, The Mr Price Story: the founders and the first factory store. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-14. ↩
  4. Mr Price Group, Integrated Report 2021: history and the 1991 control milestone. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-14. ↩
  5. Mr Price Group, Governance Report 2026: Cohen’s August 2025 retirement and board responsibilities. Original source. Accessed 2026-10-14. ↩