Burmar – a thriving family business

Writer: Hardus Botha.

My success as a businessman is not due to any qualifications but is grounded on hard work and a determination to ‘keep going’,” says Eddie Burger (64), co-owner of the Burmar Group in Gansbaai, as well as the Build It hardware stores in Gansbaai and Hermanus.

Eddie started in the civil engineering industry in 1976 as a surveyor. In 1992 he founded his own civil engineering company, Burmar Civils, in Gansbaai. After 24 years, the civil engineering part of the company was taken over by Hansie Cloete (J C Civils), while Eddie carried on with the manufacturing of bricks, blocks and lintels, as well as the mining of sand, stone and gravel under the Burmar brand. He has recently also started manufacturing pavers.

Eddie used the first part of his surname (Bur) ger and added the first part of his wife’s maiden name, (Mar)tinengo to form the name of his company, Burmar. “I did that in honour of my father-in-law, Italo, for his assistance when I started my company,” says Eddie.

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