The Bentel Group was formed in 1989 by brothers Aubrey and Selwyn Bentel with the purpose of housing various restaurants they planned on developing. The duo, along with partner Dennis Martin, went on to open 13 restaurants, each uniquely branded, in regional shopping centres throughout South Africa. It was this early experience in the dynamics of shopping centre tenant layout and customer shopping behaviour that sparked the brothers’ interest in the property industry and shopping centre development. Their involvement in the restaurant business provided the opportunity for the brothers to slowly begin purchasing vacant land and rezoning it, with the intention of developing commercial property.

Shopping Centres became the main focus as this is where their restaurant experience provided an understanding of the dynamics of the retail environment. A small office block which houses their current head office was developed in 1998 with the first Shopping Centre opening in 2002. Today Bentel Group’s developments and redevelopments comprise a prime portfolio of shopping centres in strategic locations. The brothers remain partners with Dennis Martin at Trumps in Nelson Mandela Square which they together opened in 1994.