Pick n Pay

Corporate brand

A South African supermarket and omnichannel retail group operating grocery, clothing, liquor, convenience, hypermarket and discount formats across southern and west Africa.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Pick n Pay is a South African retail group whose principal consumer-facing brand is a supermarket chain serving grocery, fresh food, household, clothing and general-merchandise needs. The business was established in 1967 after Raymond Ackerman acquired four Pick n Pay stores in Cape Town. Ackerman had previously managed the Checkers supermarket business and brought to Pick n Pay a strong emphasis on self-service shopping, customer service and competitive pricing. The company grew from a Cape Town operation into one of South Africa's largest food retailers and became listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The group operates a portfolio of store formats rather than a single standardized chain. Its core Pick n Pay supermarkets serve a broad customer base with ranges generally covering thousands of food and household products. Larger Pick n Pay Hypermarkets combine grocery retail with clothing and general merchandise. Smaller formats include Pick n Pay Market and Pick n Pay Express, the latter focused on convenience shopping, including stores located at BP service stations. Pick n Pay Clothing operates as a dedicated apparel format, while Pick n Pay Liquor serves the alcohol-retail market. The group also supports franchised supermarkets and liquor stores, including the QualiSave banner, which is aimed particularly at lower- and middle-income communities. Pick n Pay Group also owns or controls related retail businesses. Boxer is its discount-oriented retail brand, with supermarket, liquor and building-material formats. The group holds a 49% interest in TM Supermarkets in Zimbabwe, and a number of TM stores operate under Pick n Pay branding. Across its businesses, the group has operated more than 2,000 stores in Africa, with the largest concentration in South Africa, and has employed approximately 90,000 people according to recent company and reference reporting. Store ownership is divided between corporate locations and franchises, giving the group a substantial franchised network alongside its company-operated estate. Digital retail has become an increasingly important part of Pick n Pay's strategy. Pick n Pay Online supports larger grocery orders, home delivery and click-and-collect services. The Pick n Pay asap! service is designed for faster delivery of selected products, and the brand also distributes groceries through the Mr D platform. The Smart Shopper loyalty programme, launched in 2011, links in-store and online purchasing with cashback, targeted discounts and customer clubs covering areas such as coffee, pets, wine, baby products and wellness. Partnerships with BP, FNB and other businesses extend the programme's rewards ecosystem. In the 2020s, Pick n Pay faced pressure from weak profitability, operational complexity and intense competition in South African food retail. The group responded with a multi-year turnaround programme focused on improving store productivity, refining formats, strengthening Boxer, developing digital sales and reshaping the store portfolio. The company reported a substantial reduction in losses in its 2025 financial year compared with the previous year, although the Pick n Pay segment itself remained loss-making. A major Westown store opened in KwaZulu-Natal in March 2025, illustrating a renewed interest in larger, more experiential stores with expanded fresh food, bakery, prepared food, sushi, coffee and general-merchandise propositions. The group has also undertaken store closures and refurbishments as part of its effort to restore profitability. Beyond retail, Pick n Pay maintains community, food-waste, recycling and sustainability programmes. These include the Pick n Pay Foundation, school support, food donations, digital receipts, recycling reward machines and initiatives related to sustainable seafood and packaging. The company has also used food and wine festivals, rugby sponsorship and conservation partnerships to maintain consumer engagement and corporate visibility.

History

Pick n Pay's roots lie in the South African food-retailing experience of Raymond Ackerman. After joining the Ackermans clothing business and later working for Greatermans, Ackerman became involved in the development of Checkers, an early South African supermarket chain based on self-service shopping. His management experience convinced him that food retail could be transformed through accessible stores, broad product ranges and a customer-focused operating model. In 1966 Ackerman acquired four Pick n Pay stores in Cape Town from Jack Goldin. The business formally developed from this base in 1967. Its early growth was associated with the expansion of supermarket retail in South Africa and with Ackerman's emphasis on value and service. Pick n Pay later broadened its geographic footprint and store portfolio, becoming a major competitor to Checkers and other South African grocery retailers. A significant format development came in 1975, when the group opened its first Hypermarket. The concept combined supermarket shopping with department-store-style general merchandise under one roof. This allowed Pick n Pay to compete for larger household shopping trips while extending the brand beyond food. The group subsequently developed clothing, liquor and smaller convenience formats, creating a retail house with distinct banners and operating models. Pick n Pay expanded through acquisitions and franchising. It acquired a majority stake in the Score supermarket group in 1994; Score stores were later converted into Pick n Pay or Boxer franchises. The first Pick n Pay franchise opened in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, in 1993, followed by a Western Cape franchise in Durbanville in 1994. A dedicated franchise conference was held in 1997, and Pick n Pay Clothing franchising began in 2003. Franchising became an important method for reaching communities while sharing operating responsibility with independent retailers. The group acquired Boxer Superstores in 2002. Boxer became the group's discount-oriented retail brand, operating supermarket, liquor and building-related formats and targeting value-conscious customers. Pick n Pay also developed an interest in TM Supermarkets in Zimbabwe, holding 49% of the company. This gave the group a continuing regional presence beyond South Africa, although the geographic mix of operations has changed over time. Governance transitioned within the founding family when Raymond Ackerman retired as chairman in 2010 and his son Gareth Ackerman assumed the role. In the following decade, the company invested in loyalty, digital commerce and operational infrastructure. Smart Shopper launched in 2011 and became a central mechanism for cashback, promotions and customer data. Pick n Pay Online, click-and-collect, home delivery and the faster asap! service extended the brand into omnichannel retail. Partnerships with delivery platforms and financial-services providers further connected the retailer to digital consumers. The business entered the mid-2020s under considerable competitive and operational pressure. In its 2024 financial year, the group recorded a large loss, prompting a multi-year turnaround focused on format refinement, productivity, cost control, digital growth and the expansion of Boxer. The group reported improved results in the 2025 financial year, while continuing to reshape the Pick n Pay store base. New and refurbished stores placed greater emphasis on fresh food, convenience, prepared meals, bakery and selected premium experiences. The Westown Square store in KwaZulu-Natal, opened in March 2025, represented this revised format direction. Pick n Pay has also developed a substantial social and sustainability profile. The Pick n Pay Foundation was established in 1997, and later initiatives supported schools, food redistribution, recycling and waste reduction. The group has used digital receipts to reduce paper consumption, supported food-rescue organizations and participated in packaging and conservation projects. Its commercial identity therefore combines mass-market grocery retail with loyalty, community engagement and a continuing effort to modernize its physical and digital operations.

2025
Westown Square flagship-format store opens
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
A 50,000-square-metre store opened in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal, featuring a revised proposition centered on fresh food, convenience and experiential services.
2024
Omnichannel sales expand
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
The group reported substantial year-on-year growth in digital and omnichannel sales.
2011
Smart Shopper launches
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Pick n Pay introduced its customer loyalty programme, offering cashback and targeted benefits.
2010
Gareth Ackerman becomes chairman
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Gareth Ackerman succeeded Raymond Ackerman as chairman.
2002
Boxer Superstores acquired
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
The group acquired Boxer, which became an important discount retail business within the wider portfolio.
1997
Pick n Pay Foundation established
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
The group created its foundation to support philanthropic and community initiatives.
1994
Score majority stake acquired
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Pick n Pay acquired a majority stake in Score supermarkets; the stores were subsequently converted into Pick n Pay or Boxer franchises.
1993
Franchise network begins
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Pick n Pay opened its first franchised store in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal.
1975
First Pick n Pay Hypermarket opens
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
The group introduced a large-format store combining supermarket and department-store merchandise.
1967
Pick n Pay is established
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
The Pick n Pay retail business was founded in South Africa under Raymond Ackerman's leadership.
1966
Raymond Ackerman acquires the first Pick n Pay stores
[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Raymond Ackerman purchased four Pick n Pay stores in Cape Town, establishing the base from which the modern group developed.

Products and positioning

A broad-market South African food retailer combining value, range, convenience and customer rewards, with separate formats for hypermarket, clothing, liquor, convenience and discount shopping.

Grocery retail · 1967
Pick n Pay Supermarkets
The core supermarket format sells packaged groceries, fresh produce, bakery items, beverages, household goods, personal-care products and selected general merchandise. Stores vary in size and range, with larger locations supporting full weekly shopping and smaller locations serving neighborhood needs.
Hypermarket · 1975
Pick n Pay Hypermarkets
Hypermarkets combine a large grocery offer with clothing and general merchandise. The format is intended for high-volume shopping and has been periodically revised to improve fresh-food, convenience and prepared-food propositions.
Apparel retail
Pick n Pay Clothing
Pick n Pay Clothing is a dedicated clothing format selling apparel and related merchandise through standalone stores and selected retail locations. The format extends the group beyond food and participates in the company's franchise network.
Liquor retail
Pick n Pay Liquor
Pick n Pay Liquor consists of smaller specialist alcohol-retail outlets offering wine, beer, spirits and related products, subject to local licensing requirements.
Convenience retail
Pick n Pay Express
Pick n Pay Express is a convenience format generally located in high-traffic settings such as BP service stations. It focuses on smaller, faster purchases and selected grocery, beverage and ready-to-eat products.
Loyalty programme · 2011
Smart Shopper
Smart Shopper is Pick n Pay's free loyalty programme. Members earn cashback or other rewards through qualifying purchases and can receive targeted discounts and additional benefits through specialist clubs and external partnerships.
Digital grocery
Pick n Pay Online and asap!
The group's digital services support online grocery ordering, home delivery and click-and-collect. The asap! service is designed for faster delivery of selected products, while third-party delivery platforms extend digital reach.
Discount retail · 2002
Boxer
Boxer is the group's value-focused retail brand. It operates supermarket and liquor formats and also includes Boxer Build, serving customers seeking affordable grocery and selected building-related products.

Marketing campaigns

2025SA Rugby sponsorship
South Africa
Pick n Pay signed a four-year Tier 1 sponsorship agreement with SA Rugby, including branding on the national team's jerseys and naming rights associated with the Gold Cup.
Outcome. The sponsorship expanded the retailer's national sports-marketing presence.
Source
2025African penguin conservation partnership
South Africa
Pick n Pay partnered with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds to raise awareness and funds for African penguin protection.
Outcome. The campaign connected the brand's retail audience with coastal-bird conservation.
Source
2025Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival
South Africa
The annual festival brought together South African wine estates, food vendors, tasting sessions and Pick n Pay food-market experiences, with events planned in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
Outcome. The festival reinforced Pick n Pay's association with South African food and wine culture.
Source
2020Digital receipts
South Africa
Smart Shopper customers were offered emailed or app-based receipts instead of printed receipts, supporting paper reduction and digital account management.
Outcome. Receipts became available in the Pick n Pay app for a limited period after purchase.
Source
2018Reverse-vending recycling programme
South Africa
Pick n Pay introduced reverse-vending machines in partnership with Imagined Earth. Customers could return plastic, glass and metal packaging and receive rewards linked to Smart Shopper.
Outcome. The initiative was later expanded with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and had processed hundreds of thousands of recyclable items according to reference reporting.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Open revised Westown Square store formatProduct launch
Background
The turnaround required a stronger store proposition capable of serving both high-volume grocery shopping and customers seeking fresh, prepared and convenience products.
Action taken
Pick n Pay opened a large anchor store at Westown Square with expanded fresh produce, bakery, sushi, coffee, convenience and general-merchandise areas.
Aftermath
The store served as an example of the group's revised approach to large-format retail and planned refurbishment activity.
Source
2024
Begin intensified turnaround programmeStrategy
Background
A substantial group loss and pressure from South Africa's highly competitive grocery market exposed challenges in store productivity, format complexity and profitability.
Action taken
Pick n Pay emphasized operational improvements, digital growth, store portfolio changes, format refinement and the expansion of Boxer.
Aftermath
The group reported a materially smaller loss in the following financial year, while the core Pick n Pay segment continued to require improvement.
Source
2011
Launch Smart ShopperStrategy
Background
The retailer needed a structured way to reward customers, support promotions and connect shopping behavior across stores and digital channels.
Action taken
Pick n Pay launched a free loyalty programme offering cashback and later added specialist clubs and commercial partnerships.
Aftermath
Smart Shopper became a central customer-engagement and promotional platform for the group.
Source
2002
Acquire Boxer SuperstoresM&A
Background
Pick n Pay sought to broaden its presence among value-conscious shoppers and strengthen its multi-format retail portfolio.
Action taken
The group acquired Boxer Superstores and developed it as a distinct discount-oriented retail brand.
Aftermath
Boxer became a major contributor to group growth and operated supermarket, liquor and building-related formats.
Source

Recent events

2025
Pick n Pay announces turnaround progress[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Other
The group reported a materially smaller loss in its 2025 financial year than in the preceding year, attributing the improvement to its turnaround programme.
2025
Pick n Pay opens Westown Square anchor store[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
A large store opened at Westown Square in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal, with expanded fresh food, bakery, prepared-food, sushi, coffee and general-merchandise areas.
2025
Pick n Pay names James Formby as incoming chairman[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Leadership change
The company announced that James Formby would succeed Gareth Ackerman as chairman after the August 2025 annual general meeting.
2025
Pick n Pay signs SA Rugby sponsorship[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Campaign
Pick n Pay entered a four-year Tier 1 sponsorship arrangement with SA Rugby and obtained naming rights connected with the Gold Cup and a planned women's competition.
2024
Pick n Pay reports strong growth in omnichannel sales[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Other
The group reported a 74.4% increase in omnichannel sales, reflecting continued investment in online grocery and digital ordering.
2024
Pick n Pay expands recycling partnership[1]Pick n Payen.wikipedia.org
Campaign
The retailer expanded its reverse-vending recycling initiative with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, rewarding customers for returning recyclable materials.

Sources12 sources

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