The memorial service for Pick n Pay founder, Raymond Ackerman will be taking place on Monday. He passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday.
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The retail magnate, along with his wife, Wendy, founded the prominent supermarket chain in 1967 after buying their first four stores in Cape Town.
Over the span of more than half a century, the empire grew to over 2000 outlets, including stores across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria, Eswatini and Lesotho.
By the time he handed the chairman’s reins to his son Gareth, Pick n Pay was operating 20 hypermarkets and 402 supermarkets across South Africa, while group turnover stood at almost R50 billion.
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The memorial service be held on Monday, 11 September at 11am and will be live-streamed online.
Meanwhile, as news of his death spread, messages of condolence began pouring in with many thanking Ackerman for his contribution to South Africa and the retail industry over the course of his career.
Several Pick n Pay stores across the country also set-up impromptu memorials for the late founder.
‘Mr Ackerman was an icon of not just the South African business world but the international retail landscape too,’ said Western Cape Premier Alan Winde. ‘He left an indelible and profound legacy, constantly innovating and growing.’
‘Apart from the wealth of knowledge he brought to the local retail environment, through his business endeavours he has created tens of thousands of jobs over the years and has made an outstanding contribution to the South African economy. Beyond his business prowess he also looked for opportunities to support the development of young South Africans through training and leadership development opportunities.’
Similar sentiments were also shared by national president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
‘We mourn with the Ackerman family as they bid farewell to a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose name resounded comfortably in millions of households around the country,’ he said.
‘Raymond Ackerman was an outstanding business leader and entrepreneur who placed people first and stood up to the injustices and discrimination which the apartheid regime sought to outsource to the business sector. May his soul rest in peace.’
‘He reduced the cost of essentials such as bread, milk and chicken, and spoke against the inclusion of value-added tax (VAT) on basic food lines. He was also one of the first executives to promote black South Africans to senior positions and to acknowledge black trade unions at a time when such unions were banned from operating in the country.’
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Picture: Raymond Ackerman / Facebook