IN MEMORIAM
Pick n Pay founder Raymond Ackerman has died
The retail giant’s founder has left a profound mark on the local industry
Pick n Pay founder, Raymond Ackerman has died at the age of 92.
The retail entrepreneur founded Pick n Pay in 1967 with his wife Wendy, after buying four stores in Cape Town.
Over the subsequent 56 years, the retail group grew to more than 2,000 stores across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria, Eswatini and Lesotho.
Ackerman’s father founded Ackermans after World War 1.
Raymond Ackerman launched 26 battles against the government on petrol price cutting but lost.
Read the obituary: Pick n Pay founder Raymond Ackerman, portrayed as ‘inspiring, generous, positive and warm’, has died
In 1989, Ackerman and a group of businessmen met then-President FW de Klerk soon after his appointment and called for the release of Nelson Mandela.
In 2004, he established the Raymond Ackerman Academy for Entrepreneurial Development in partnership with UCT and later the University of Johannesburg, which has produced hundreds of new business owners.
In 2010, Raymond and Wendy retired from the board of Pick n Pay Stores Limited and became honorary life presidents.
A Bishops Diocesan College old boy, Ackerman was president and then the patron of the Old Diocesan Union. He received seven honorary doctorates from local and international universities.
Ackerman is survived by his wife, Wendy, children Gareth, Kathy, Suzanne, and Jonathan, his 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. DM
RIP Mr Ackerman – I’ve always admired the way he has included his wife’s contribution as party to their success.
Worked for him for 37 years. What a man. Revolutionized the retail market. My condolences to Wendy and the rest of the family.
Thank u for your immense contribution to SA’s economic development & transformation. I feel privileged to have interacted with u thru the bpSA/P&P partnership. Condolences to the Ackerman and P&P family. MHSRIP💜
I remember going shopping with my mother in the 1977 at Ackermans in Stellenbosch. Amazing man, amazing family, we need more of him in our country!
A giant of a man and humble with it. May he rest in peace after giving so much of himself back to South Africa.
What an amazing man! Aside from all the well deserved tributes to him just think how one man created employment for literally thousands of South African citizens. The SA Government should take note just what private enterprise can do under honest, capable hands!!
RIP. Mr Ackerman 🙏