The visionary South African, and founder of Pick n Pay, Raymond Ackerman has died at the age of 92.

Raymond Ackerman founded Pick n Pay in 1967 along with wife Wendy after buying four stores in Cape Town. Today, the Pick n Pay Group serves millions of customers in more than 2,000 stores across the continent.

He came from a retailing family with his father having founded Ackermans after World War One.

In a statement on behalf of the company, it is said that Ackerman’s business philosophy was underpinned by the “four legs of the table” (Administration, Social responsibility and Marketing, People, and Merchandise, with the customer on top) first introduced to Ackerman by Bernard Trujillo in the US.

With profound sadness we announce that Pick n Pay founder Raymond Ackerman has passed away.
A visionary entrepreneur, humanitarian and a great South African. Our country has lost a brilliant patriot who always saw a positive future for South Africa.🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/Io0uunYhAJ

— Pick n Pay (@PicknPay) September 7, 2023

Amongst his numerous achievements, Ackerman was the driving force behind the bid to bring the 2004 Olympic Games to Cape Town, dedicating considerable energy and funding to the initiative.

In 2004, he established the Raymond Ackerman Academy for Entrepreneurial Development in partnership with UCT, which was later joined by the University of Johannesburg. The Academy has produced hundreds of new business owners, many of them offering employment to others, while well over 400 of its graduates are now actively employed.

Over the years, Raymond Ackerman was honoured by many institutions for his services to both business and society.

Premier Alan Winde has expressed his sincerest condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the late Ackerman.

Ackerman was an icon of not just the South African business world but the international retail landscape too. He left an indelible and profound legacy, constantly innovating and growing.

Winde says he displayed an incredible entrepreneurial spirit and talent that has endured throughout the years and will continue to do so, leading the way for budding entrepreneurs.

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.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says Ackerman was a ‘truly great Capetonian’ who leaves a ‘huge legacy’.

‘My sincere condolences to the family and to Pick n Pay on the passing of Raymond Ackerman. My thoughts go out in particular to Mrs Wendy Ackerman and their four children.

‘He was a truly great Capetonian! Raymond leaves a huge legacy in the economy of our country and the civic life of our city.

‘Earlier this year I had the pleasure of handing a gift from the City archives to Mr and Mrs Ackerman – a photo of them at one of their early store openings in Cape Town. I inscribed the photo “With grateful thanks for all you have done for Cape Town and her people.” A sentiment I repeat today,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.

ActionSA President Herman Mashaba says Ackerman revolutionised consumer retail in this country to ensure that customers are always placed centre of retail operations.

His dedication to the South African people saw him go head-to-head with the Apartheid government over its race-based policies and fought no less than 27 court battles to help decrease prices for consumers.

Various other prominent South Africans paid tribute to the retail pioneer.

I want to extend my deepest condolences to Raymond Ackerman’s family and his @PicknPay family. After founding Pick n Pay in 1967 with his wife Wendy, he left an enormous impact on the industry and South African economy. His positive contribution to our society will be his legacy. pic.twitter.com/BNLKtf4j3c

— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) September 7, 2023

Ackerman is survived by his wife, Wendy, children Gareth, Kathy, Suzanne, and Jonathan, his 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.