Adeo – South African trademarks

Updated 8 November 2026

Adeo is a French home-improvement retail group. Its best-known chain is Leroy Merlin, which also trades in South Africa, along with its own product brands.

How Adeo has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.

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#244largest trademark owner in South Africa (of 121,626)
242trademarks filed
8different logos published since 2020
35of 45 classes used
2012first trademark filed
80filed in the last 10 years

Adeo trademarks in 45 seconds

Adeo trademarks in 45 seconds

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/adeo-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html

A portfolio built over time

Adeo filed its first South African trademark in 2012 and has filed 242 since; its busiest year was 2015, with 98 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.

Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.

The names behind the portfolio

Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.

NameMarksFiling years
Adeo2422012–2025

Where Adeo expanded its business

Trademark classes show what a business sells. Adeo's portfolio is concentrated in metal goods (class 6), furniture (class 20), building materials (class 19). Its most recent moves were into telecoms (2016), legal & security (2015), medical devices (2015).

Adeo trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Adeo trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/adeo-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html

Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.

ClassMarksShareSince
6 Metal goods187.4%2012
20 Furniture177.0%2012
19 Building materials177.0%2012
21 Kitchenware156.2%2012
11 Lighting & appliances156.2%2012
16 Paper & print104.1%2012
27 Carpets104.1%2012
8 Hand tools104.1%2012

The brands Adeo protects most

The word marks and logo names Adeo has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.

#BrandTrademarksClassesFiled
1LEROY MERLIN63322012–2012
2AXTON15132015–2022
3GEOLIA14142015–2015
4NATERIAL13132015–2015
5EQUATION12122015–2015
6INSPIRE LEROY MERLIN11112018–2018
7STANDERS992015–2015
8REDSTONE882015–2015
9IMPACT772018–2018
10ELEKI662024–2024
11LUXENS662015–2015
12DELINIA552015–2015
13DELINIA ID552017–2017
14KOZIKAZA552016–2016
15SENSEA552015–2015

Logos filed most often (since 2020)

Adeo trademark logo
12 filings · 12 classes
Adeo trademark logo
11 filings · 11 classes
Adeo trademark logo
9 filings · 9 classes
Adeo trademark logo
6 filings · 6 classes
Adeo trademark logo
3 filings · 3 classes
Adeo trademark logo
3 filings · 3 classes
Adeo trademark logo
3 filings · 3 classes
Adeo trademark logo
2 filings · 2 classes

Adeo's logos

The 8 different logos Adeo has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.

How quickly its trademarks are registered

Over the last five years, Adeo's marks took a median of 3.2 years from filing to registration, slower than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 2.6 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance.

Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.

Who files the most in Adeo's classes

Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Adeo's main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Adeo's market position, not who is most like it.

In the last five years, Adeo was #13 of 624 filers in class 6 (metal goods), with 6 of 1,047 trademarks; #22 of 636 filers in class 20 (furniture), with 5 of 1,156 trademarks; #12 of 380 filers in class 19 (building materials), with 6 of 721 trademarks.

Adeo's share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.

Top trademark filers in class 6 (metal goods), South Africa 1975–2024: Adeo

Top trademark filers in class 6 (metal goods), South Africa 1975–2024: Adeo

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/adeo-south-african-trademarks/class-6-race-video.html

Main competitors – the companies most like Adeo

Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Adeo's – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.

Adeo trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Adeo trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/adeo-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html

Trademark filings per year: Adeo (orange) and its five closest competitors.

#CompanyRelationshipSimilarity
1Council for Scientific and Industrial R…–71%
2Lewis Stores–70%
3Mercedes-Benz–70%
4Voltex–66%
5Suning International Services–64%
6Aldi–64%
7Kganya Brands–64%
8Lotte–64%
9Ryno de Villiers–64%
10Goodwill Trade and Investments–62%

Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.

Adeo – relevant export countries

South Africa exported US$2.1 billion of the goods Adeo's main classes cover in the last year – metal; containers; hardware; boxes (class 6); furniture; mirrors; picture frames; meerschaum (class 20); building materials; not of metal; timber; buildings (class 19); brushes; vases; mugs; combs (class 21); lighting; heating; installations; drying (class 11). Combining where these goods are exported, imported, growing and made (and copied), and what protection costs, these are the markets where Adeo's trademarks matter most.

Adjust the weightings

These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.

Worldwide

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1European Union71US$101 m-4%NationalUS$2,388
2United States of America69US$55 m-5%NationalUS$3,425
3United Kingdom65US$38 m-4%NationalUS$1,371
4Japan60US$34 m-10%NationalUS$1,774
5Australia57US$36 m-5%NationalUS$2,380
6Canada56US$16 m-6%NationalUS$2,192
7Namibia56US$268 m+10%ARIPOUS$450
8China55US$60 m-5%NationalUS$1,224
9Russian Federation55US$8.2 m+4%NationalUS$1,915
10Botswana54US$294 m-2%ARIPOUS$450

Africa

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1Namibia56US$268 m+10%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
2Botswana54US$294 m-2%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
3Zimbabwe54US$205 m+14%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
4OAPI (17 states)53US$75 m+7%NationalUS$1,563 S&Z
5Nigeria50US$11 m-3%NationalUS$1,015 S&Z
6Morocco49US$4.3 m+15%NationalUS$1,408
7Mozambique49US$123 m-6%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
8Tanzania48US$31 m+5%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
9Lesotho46US$98 m+11%NationalUS$326
10Dem. Rep. of the Congo46US$82 m-7%NationalUS$2,100

SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 5 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$301 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.

Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.

Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z

BrandClassesNigeriaOAPI (17 states)
LEROY MERLIN32US$6,496US$6,550
AXTON13US$2,639US$3,041
GEOLIA14US$2,842US$3,225
NATERIAL13US$2,639US$3,041
EQUATION12US$2,436US$2,856

S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.

TM Country Selection  Rank the countries for your own goods and get the quotes.

Word marks you may have considered opposing

For Adeo's five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Adeo's own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.

Similar to LEROY MERLIN (classes 6, 11, 19, 20, 21; searched 2018-10-31 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to AXTON (classes 6, 19; searched 2018-02-28 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to GEOLIA (classes 6, 19, 21; searched 2018-04-25 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to NATERIAL (classes 6, 11, 19, 20, 21; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to EQUATION (classes 6, 11, 19, 20, 21; searched 2018-07-25 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.

How S&Z can help you

S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.

We manage your trademarks – not just file them

Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:

Renewal managementEvery renewal date in your portfolio tracked and paid online.
Competitor watchGet real-time competitor analysis.
Similar-mark watchNew word marks that come close to yours, found as they are published using SimTM.
Expansion into AfricaLowest-cost trademark expansion into Africa - Nigeria, OAPI.

Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices

S&Z prices – South African trademarks

Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificateUS$240
Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same timeUS$225
Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing)R1,027
≈ US$62.29

Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.

Adeo's next five years of renewals

28 of Adeo's registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$1,744 over the five years.

Adeo: frequently asked questions

What should Adeo consider for its trademarks?
  • Where to file next: its goods sell strongly in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe – markets where South African exports of the same goods are large or growing, and where S&Z files at its own all-in prices (see “Adeo – relevant export countries”).
  • Possible gaps: its competitors also protect class 39 (transport & travel), class 43 (restaurants & hotels) – worth checking against what the business sells or plans to sell.
  • Fewer new brands: new brand names fell from 3.8 to 0.4 a year – worth reviewing whether planned launches are being protected early enough.
  • Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.
Which of Adeo's brands have been protected the longest?
Several of Adeo's brands have been protected for generations and are still being filed today: AXTON (first filed 2015, most recently 2022); KOZIKAZA (first filed 2016, most recently 2016); DELINIA ID (first filed 2017, most recently 2017); IMPACT (first filed 2018, most recently 2018); INSPIRE LEROY MERLIN (first filed 2018, most recently 2018). Brands that are refiled over decades – in new classes, new logos or updated packaging – keep their protection current as the business changes.
How many new brands does Adeo launch each year?
Counting only brand names it had never filed before, Adeo filed about 0.4 new brand names a year over the last five complete years, fewer than the 3.8 a year in the five years before; its busiest year in the last decade was 2015, with 14. Its closest competitors averaged 2.8 new brand names a year over the same period (Council for Scientific and Industrial R… 1.4, Lewis Stores 0.4, Mercedes-Benz 10.0, Voltex 2.0, Suning International Services 0.0). New brand names are a good indicator of product launches and innovation.
How broadly does Adeo protect each brand?
Adeo has filed 23 different brand names. 4% of them are protected in a single class, while 15 cover five classes or more – the widest is LEROY MERLIN, in 32 classes. A brand used beyond its core product (merchandise, services, related goods) needs protection in each of those classes: in South Africa each class is a separate application.
When in the year does Adeo usually file trademarks?
Over the last ten years, Adeo filed most often in October (63% of its filings), May (9%) and March (8%); the busiest quarter was Q4 (66%). Filing well before a launch matters: rights in South Africa date from the filing date, and examination can take more than a year.
Which classes do Adeo's competitors protect that Adeo does not?
Several of Adeo's closest competitors have filed since 2015 in classes Adeo has never used: class 39 (transport & travel, 3 of its top five competitors); class 43 (restaurants & hotels, 3 of its top five competitors); class 34 (tobacco, 2 of its top five competitors). These are not necessarily gaps – they may reflect different products – but they are worth reviewing against the goods and services the business actually offers or plans.
Why did some of Adeo's trademarks take more than five years to register?
Of Adeo's trademarks registered in the last two years, 13% had waited more than four years since filing. Almost all of that time is examination: the South African registry has been working through a backlog, so many applications filed in 2020–2022 are only now being accepted. Once a mark is accepted, it is advertised and normally registered within about six months. Prompt responses to the registry's examination reports (office actions) avoid adding further delay.
How long do Adeo's South African trademarks last, and when must they be renewed?
A South African trademark registration lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods indefinitely. Renewal can be paid in the months before the due date, and a six-month grace period applies after it, with a late-payment fee; a mark that is not renewed is removed from the register. A registered mark can also be challenged if it has not been used for five years or more, so use matters as much as renewal.
Do Adeo's South African trademarks protect its brands elsewhere in Africa?
No – trademarks are territorial, and a South African registration covers South Africa only. South Africa is not a member of the Madrid system, so international registration is not available to South African applicants. Protection elsewhere in Africa comes from national filings (for example Nigeria), a single OAPI registration covering 17 West and Central African states, or a regional ARIPO application designating member states such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. S&Z files in all of these, including Nigeria together with South Africa (SANi).
What can Adeo do if someone files a mark similar to one of its brands?
When a new application is advertised for opposition, the owner of an earlier, similar mark can oppose it – in South Africa within three months of the advertisement (this period can be extended). After registration, a conflicting mark can still be challenged through rectification of the register, and use of a confusingly similar mark can be stopped through an infringement action. The key is seeing new applications in time, which is what a similar-mark watch does.
What is SimTM?
SimTM is the similar-trademark technology behind GlobalIPCo's South African trademark watching services, which S&Z uses. It identifies newly published trademarks that sound or look similar to a registered mark, at four levels of sensitivity that progressively widen the marks flagged – from the most relevant to marks of more general interest. It is fast enough to check every trademark journal as it is published, so owners can be alerted to similar marks while they can still be opposed within the three-month opposition period. The word marks listed under “Word marks you may have considered opposing” were found with SimTM's two closest levels and then reviewed, so only marks we consider confusingly similar to Adeo's brands are shown.
How accurate is the information on this page?
The figures, charts and videos on this page are based on trademark and trade data obtained by S&Z, and are only as accurate as that data. Records can be incomplete, delayed or contain errors, and linking marks to Adeo and its group companies involves judgement. S&Z therefore does not guarantee that all the information is 100% accurate or complete. It is a general overview, not legal advice: please contact S&Z before relying on it for a filing, renewal, opposition or other decision.