The man who gave up farming to build Dis-Chem’s R34 billion backbone

• Christopher Williams, the founder of CJ Distribution, built the logistics backbone behind Dis-Chem's R34 billion wholesale business.
• Williams initially pursued a degree in pharmaceuticals after being drawn to the field, but his plans to become a farmer were derailed when his family's farm struggled, leading him to join his father's pharmacy business.
• The legislative changes in 2003 and 2004, which opened up the pharmacy industry to the private sector and regulated pharmaceutical prices, prompted Williams to explore alternative revenue channels, ultimately leading him to build CJ Distribution.