08 September 2023
By: Michelle van der Spuy
Raymond Ackerman was not only an icon in the local business world but also in the international retail industry, says Alan Winde, premier of the Western Cape.
Ackerman, who founded the Pick n Pay retail group in the 1960s, passed away at the age of 92. According to Winde, he leaves a lasting and profound legacy and was someone who continued to innovate and grow.
“By building Pick n Pay together with his family, Ackerman created a prominent brand over the past 50 years that is globally recognised and respected,” he says.
“He had an incredible spirit and talent for entrepreneurship that continued through the years and paved the way for other young entrepreneurs.”
Winde says that in addition to the wealth of knowledge Ackerman contributed to the retail world, he created tens of thousands of job opportunities over the years through his business activities and made an outstanding contribution to the economy. He also supported South African youth through leadership development training.
“We will miss him greatly. He was a proud South African who strongly believed in our country and its potential. His legacy will endure.”
According to Reuters, Pick n Pay announced Ackerman’s passing on Tuesday. The cause of his death is unknown.
Jannie de Villiers, former CEO of Grain SA, says that when he thinks of Ackerman, he experiences a lot of beautiful emotions from when, as a child, he travelled 160km to Bloemfontein to visit its first Pick n Pay store.
“In the agricultural sector, we should honour him as the father of the retail sector, as well as the fact that he made food more accessible,” he says.
“He was a very difficult customer, but he brought about revolutionary changes that benefited the retail sector and the market, from which all consumers in South Africa greatly benefited.”
Dr John Purchase, former CEO of Agbiz, describes Ackerman as a pioneer in the food value chain. “He established niche stores that helped bring the producer closer to the consumer with cheaper, higher quality, and more diverse products.
“He was a people person who certainly helped advance the food value chain in South Africa. He was an entrepreneur, he was a visionary, and his models are still widely followed, both in South Africa and internationally.”
Ackerman is survived by his wife, Wendy, children Gareth, Kathy, Suzanne and Jonathan, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
