Retail

Inside the new Pick n Pay stores opening across South Africa

Kirsten Minnaar • 3 December 2025

Pick n Pay is revamping retail stores across South Africa as part of its efforts to turn the company around and bring back shoppers.

Despite being one of South Africa’s oldest grocery retailers, Pick n Pay has had a difficult few years, prompting the business to make some major changes.

The retailer’s results for the year that ended 25 February 2024 revealed that for the first time in Pick n Pay’s listed history, it was technically insolvent, with total liabilities exceeding total assets by R183 million.

As part of these poor financial results, Pick n Pay announced that the Ackerman family – who have been involved since 1967 – would give up control of the company.

Pick n Pay also replaced CEO Pieter Boone with former chief executive Sean Summers, who ran the business between 1999 and 2007, during which it showed exceptional growth.

As part of Summers’ turnaround plan, the company started closing loss-making stores, converting them to Pick n Pay franchises or Boxer stores. This initiative has improved the company’s gross profit margin by 0.4%.

The next step in the turnaround plan involved upgrading of select stores in South Africa to create ‘model’ Pick n Pays in each region the brand operates.

These stores are heavily revamped to look more modern, appealing to customers, and feature improved fresh food offerings.

Pick n Pay’s Integrated Lead of Supermarkets, Phillip Gittins, told Daily Investor that between January and December 2025, Pick n Pay stores nationally – including franchised stores – have undergone 43 revamps.

There have also been three Pick n Pay Grand Openings and nine Pick n Pay Liquor Grand Openings during the same period.

Gittins explained that with the revamps, Pick n Pay’s focus has been on improving the customer journey through the store, revitalising and modernising the look and feel.

“There is a focus on our fresh areas, specifically bakery, deli, butchery and produce. A review of each store’s product range was conducted to ensure we are meeting customer needs,” Gittins said.

Customers who visit remodelled Pick n Pay stores can expect to find an expanded fresh produce section, improved product range with a broader choice of options, and a stronger focus on convenience.

“The response has been extremely positive, with customers flocking to the stores for the specials and to see the new layouts, take advantage of the great specials and feel the new store energy,” he said.

Bringing back shoppers

Gittins added that Pick n Pay has also been implementing intensive staff training, which has resulted in an uptick in the number of satisfied customers.

Beyond revamping its stores, the retailer has also been implementing other measures aimed at attracting more customers.

“Key for us remains to focus on keeping prices down for our customers and providing quality which is affordable for South Africans,” Gittins said.

“Providing quality and fresh ingredients remains a priority, along with ensuring we stock the everyday solutions our customers and their families need.”

Pick n Pay has also tapped into the global rise of South Korean culture by launching dedicated Korean food markets across select stores in South Africa.

This concept was introduced in November 2025 at Pick n Pay Nicol in Bryanston. The retailer announced that the K-food range would also be available in Pick n Pay The Verge, Pick n Pay Plettenberg Bay and Pick n Pay Ottery from early December.

This offering consists of a range of more than 80 authentic K-food products to give local shoppers an easy way to explore that country’s bold flavours and distinctive food culture.

“This will be followed by the expansion of our global flavours food selection across the country,” Gittins explained. He added that Pick n Pay’s Christmas campaign offers customers incredible daily prizes.

This includes R50,000 in-store and R50,000 on Pick n Pay ASAP!. In Addition, customers can also win a share of R5 million in instant prizes.

“Pick n Pay is also strengthening its customer partnerships, including becoming the primary grocery partner for FNB’s eBucks programme,” he said.

“We started participating in the FNB eBucks PayDay promotion last month, offering customers free delivery and special asap! deals on the 15th of every month.”