The founder of the Pick n Pay retail group, Raymond Ackerman, has died at the age of 92.
In the statement released by the retail giant on Thursday morning, Pick n Pay confirmed the news.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the death at the age of 92 of visionary South African, and founder of Pick n Pay, Raymond Ackerman. He is survived by his wife, Wendy, children Gareth, Kathy, Suzanne, and Jonathan, his 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren,” read the statement.
When he started the business with his wife, Wendy in 1967, he bought four stores in Cape Town with the aim of providing goods to the people at lower prices.
Ackerman’s vision and business acumen led him to establish many more stores in the country and around the continent.
Living through his principle and understanding the need of customers, Ackerman’s Pick n Pay now boasts more than 2 000 stores. He created employment for many people while delivering goods at lower prices.
The group said: “His business philosophy was underpinned by the “four legs of the table” (Administration, Social responsibility and Marketing, People, and Merchandise, with the customer on top) first introduced to Ackerman by Bernard Trujillo in the US.”
Coming from a business minded family, his father, Gus, founded the clothing giant Ackermans stores.
Through his business acumen and a good sense of knowing what the customers need, Ackerman believed in providing consumers the best service in terms of products and best value for money spent at his stores.
His stores also expanded to townships across the country. Even at BP filling stations, the retail group introduced Pick n Pay Express, which was another vision that Ackerman had, to follow his customers wherever they go.
As friendly as he was, he had built a great bond with Pick n Pay customers to the point where he would walk around mingling with shoppers and encouraging them to keep supporting his business as it was helped many households provide for their families.
As a philanthropist and a visionary, Ackerman believed in equality and was against apartheid law. He gave deserving employees managerial positions based on merits despite race.
The legendary entrepreneur was also critical of sanctions where he believed that apartheid had caused so much pain for black people in the country.
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