Pick N Pay, Backed By Ackerman Family, Opens New Store After Closing 32 Locations

The retailer, backed by the Ackerman family, opens a new store at Westown Square, enhancing convenience and freshness.

The 'Super Seven' store upgrades boost sales by up to 100, enhancing customer experience with improved layouts and curated product selections.

Despite strategic moves, Pick n Pay posted a R3.2 billion loss 171 million in 2024, navigating intense competition and rising costs.

Pick n Pay, the South African retailer backed by the Ackerman family, has opened a new supermarket at Westown Square, a mixed-use development in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal. This comes barely two months after the company closed 32 stores as part of its restructuring plan. A Pick n Pay Clothing and Liquor store is also set to open in the shopping centre.

We've implemented several improvements in the Westown store that we are rolling out as part of our targeted store revitalisation programme, said Sean Summers, CEO of Pick n Pay. These features are designed to enhance freshness, improve our fresh produce sections, and optimize convenience for customers.xA0

Summers emphasized that the company has made significant strides in reshaping its store network. The bulk of the estate reorganization is behind us, and we are now accelerating store revitalization and opening strategically located new stores in high-potential areas.xA0

The move comes amid intense competition in South Africas retail sector. Pick n Pay recently ceded its Hyde Park location to Shoprites Checkers FreshX , marking a strategic reshuffle in Johannesburgs premium retail market. This shift underscores the broader battle for dominance between Pick n Pay and market leader Shoprite.

Pick n Pays restructuring includes the Super Seven initiative, which has transformed seven stores with better layouts, a more focused product selection, and improved staff training. The changes are paying off, with some stores doubling their sales and receiving positive customer feedback.