Deacons’ principal business is to operate retail establishments including franchise and department stores selling ladies, men’s and children’s clothing, footwear, accessories, toiletries, gifts, home-furnishings, cosmetics and sporting goods amongst other items in East Africa. Deacons started its operations in 1958 as a Marks & Spencer franchisee. The business was incorporated into the Company in 1973 and traded successfully under this franchise until 1980. Due to import restrictions, this franchise was relinquished in 1980, and the Company shifted to local products by working with local industry to supply its stores.
Longhorn Publishers limited is a public limited liability company wholly-owned and run by Kenyans. It was incorporated in Kenya in May 1965 as Longmans of Kenya a wholly owned subsidiary of Longman Group International of the United Kingdom. At that time, it was mainly a sales promotion office handling Longman publications published in UK. In December 1969, the company changed name to Longman Kenya Limited. During the 1970s, a limited local publishing programme was started and, around the same time, a few Kenyans were invited to join the Board of Directors.