SOUTH AFRICAN INDEX
THE PEOPLE SHAPING SOUTH AFRICA
Menu
Retail · Food and general merchandise retail

Pick n Pay

Pick n Pay is a South African retailer founded in 1967 by Raymond Ackerman with Wendy Ackerman after the family acquired four small stores in Cape Town.

Published · Updated

Pick n Pay is a South African retailer founded in 1967 by Raymond Ackerman with Wendy Ackerman after the family bought four small Cape Town stores. Company records describe Ackerman as the founder and Wendy Ackerman as a founding executive. [1][2]

History

The first four stores were acquired in Cape Town in 1967. The company listed the following year and expanded from that initial base into a multi-format retail group. [3][4]

Raymond Ackerman remained closely involved for more than four decades, serving as chairman and, until 1999, chief executive. Wendy Ackerman played a continuing role in employee liaison and benefits and is identified by Pick n Pay as one of the founding executives. [5][2]

Key milestones

  1. Raymond and Wendy Ackerman established Pick n Pay after acquiring four Cape Town stores. [1]

  2. Pick n Pay Stores Limited listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange. [3]

  3. The first Pick n Pay Family Store franchise opened in Westville, Durban. [6]

Founded / co-founded by

  • Raymond Ackerman — South African retailer who founded Pick n Pay with Wendy Ackerman in 1967 after acquiring four Cape Town stores.

Related articles

  • The Founders Who Built South African Retail
    Raymond Ackerman founded Pick n Pay; Stewart Cohen and Laurie Chiappini co-founded Mr Price; Whitey Basson built Shoprite after an existing chain was acquired. Their histories show why “founder” is not one universal category.

Sources

  1. Pick n Pay, A Tribute to Raymond Ackerman. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  2. Pick n Pay, Integrated Annual Report 2013: Board of directors, 2013-03-03. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  3. Pick n Pay, Annual Report 2012: Group at a glance, 2012-02-29. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  4. Pick n Pay Investor Relations, The Pick n Pay Group. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  5. Pick n Pay, Integrated Annual Report 2011: Board of directors, 2011-02-28. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  6. Pick n Pay, Pick n Pay’s army of franchisees sees the future of retail. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩