Pick n Pay

Pick n Pay was founded by Raymond Ackerman, son of Gus Ackerman, who founded the Ackermans clothing retail chain in South Africa, in 1916. Raymond joined Ackermans in 1951 as a trainee manager. In the early 1950s, Ackermans was sold to rival department store chain Greatermans. When Greatermans branched into food retailing, Ackerman recognised the potential for a new type of shopping experience - self-service supermarkets. He encouraged Greatermans to start its own supermarket chain, of which Ackerman would become General Manager. The first store was opened in Mayfair, Johannesburg. The new chain, Checkers, still exists in South Africa, as a major competitor to Pick n Pay. In 1975, Pick n Pay opened its first Hypermarket - a new retail concept which combined department store and supermarket operations under one roof. Pick n Pay acquired a majority stake in the Score supermarket group in 1994. On 27 March 2025, Pick n Pay opened a 50,000 square meter store in Westown Square, Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal, becoming the anchor tenant of the new R15 billion Westown development, situated between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The new store indicated a number of changes for the retailer, including catering to high-LSM (high income-earning) consumers with upmarket offerings, and revisions to its standard format, including an expanded fresh produce section, an improved product range, a stronger focus on convenience, improved in-store bakery, a sushi bar, and a sit-down coffee bar (The Roasty). From 1 July 2025, there were no more Pick n Pay branches located in Namibia. In October 2025, Pick n Pay's CEO Sean Summers announced that the chain would be commencing with major store refurbishments across South Africa. PnP aims to complete the revamp and reopening of 17 stores by the end of 2025. Among the revamps are a new PnP Hypermarket format, which introduces an expanded general merchandise section and a broader grocery range. Further store revamps will follow in 2026. ==Operations==

As of 2025, Pick n Pay operated at 2,269 stores (including Boxer stores) across seven countries on the African continent; South Africa (where the majority of its stores are located), Lesotho, Eswatini, Nigeria, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These included: • 1,125 Pick n Pay, Boxer, and TM Supermarkets (standard size and small stores, with an average size of 2,900 sqm) • 21 Pick n Pay Hypermarkets (large stores, with an average size of around 13,000 sqm) • 415 Pick n Pay Clothing stores (clothing-only stores, with an average size of 450 sqm) • 678 Pick n Pay and Boxer Liquor stores (small format alcohol retail outlets, with an average size of 170 sqm) • 30 Boxer Build stores Also in 2025, the company operated 188 forecourt stores, with an average size of 300 sqm, under its Pick n Pay Express banner. These 24-hour stores are situated at BP gas stations, in a partnership aimed at offering customers convenience in high-traffic areas. 2,080 of the company's total stores in 2025 were located in South Africa, while the remaining 189 were situated throughout the remaining six countries of operation. 1,498 stores were corporate-owned and 697 were franchised. The company is a member of the Franchise Association of South Africa. Pick n Pay employs 90,000 individuals, 61,000 of whom work at Pick n Pay stores, and 29,000 of whom work at Boxer stores. Online shopping The group's omnichannel strategy offers customers groceries via a number of digital channels. Pick n Pay Online caters for larger orders, and facilitates Click and Collect, and home delivery options. Pick n Pay asap! offers select items with a 1-hour delivery window. Pick n Pay on Mr D offers customers access to groceries through the Mr D platform (a major South African takeout app that competes directly with Uber Eats). Loyalty programs Pick n Pay operates a free-to-join loyalty program called Smart Shopper, which was launched in 2011. The retailer also offers consumers the ability to join Pick n Pay Clubs, whereby they can earn extra Smart Shopper points, and receive additional discounts. These include the Coffee, Pets, Wine, Baby, and Live Well Clubs. In 2018, Smart Shopper partnered with South African gas station chain BP to provide customers with extra points when they purchase gas. TymeBank customers who do so earn extra points. Other Smart Shopper partner businesses include NetFlorist, Europcar, Planet Fitness, Intercape, and Spur. In November 2024, Pick n Pay partnered with major South African bank, FNB, to enable FNB customers to earn eBucks (FNB's loyalty points) at Pick n Pay stores. As part of this roll-out, FNB began installing banking kiosks in Pick n Pay stores across South Africa, aiming to reach 100 kiosks by June 2026. The FNB partnership allowed Pick n Pay to tap into the existing 6.4 million-strong eBucks membership group. ==Corporate social responsibility==

In 1997, with the celebration of 30 years since the foundation of Pick n Pay, the company started the Pick n Pay Foundation, with R30 million set aside to create a fund for philanthropic purposes. In November 2024, the recycling initiative was expanded, in partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, and it was reported that the project had already facilitated the recycling of 480,000 items, and paid over R40,000 to customers as rewards. The company spent over R29 million in 2024 Corporate Social Investment and Socio-economic Development expenses, donated 901 tonnes of food to FoodForward SA, and distributed around R13 million worth of goods on behalf of Feed The Nation. Also in 2025, Pick n Pay partnered with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) on a campaign that educates, and raises awareness and funds, for the protection of African penguins. ==Wine & Food Festival==

In late April 2025, Pick n Pay again hosted its Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival in Cape Town. Taking place at the Claremont Cricket Club in 2025, it is an annual celebration of the Cape's food and wines. In 2025, over 50 of South Africa's top wine estates showcased their wines at the festival, during which Pick n Pay hosted tasting room sessions. The Pick n Pay Wine Shop ensured that it stocked the festival's featured wines. The festival is also host to The Pick n Pay Fresh Food Market for food, Pick n Pay Burger & Pizza Trucks, and Pick n Pay Picnic Bags. The company will host a similar festival in Durban, in June 2025, and another in Johannesburg in October 2025. ==Sponsorships==

In March 2025, Pick n Pay signed a 4-year contract as a Tier 1 sponsor of SA Rugby, with its logo being placed on the rear of the national team's jerseys. The company also acquired the naming rights to the national club championship - the Gold Cup - and a new women's rugby competition, the details of which are to be announced later in 2025. One of Pick n Pay's major corporate loyalty partners, FNB, is SA Rugby's front-of-jersey sponsor, however the SA Rugby deals were separate to those between Pick n Pay and FNB, and the co-sponsorship is merely coincidental. The two companies are investing a combined R220 million in SA Rugby. == See also ==