| QUICK FACTS | |
| Birth Name: | Raymond Ackerman |
| Occupation: | Businessman (Owner of Pick ‘n Pay) |
| Date of Birth: | 10 March 1931 (age 93 years) |
| Died | 07 September 2023 |
| Place of Birth | Germiston, Gauteng |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Gender: | Male |
| Wife: | Wendy Ackerman |
| Education: | Diocesan College University of Cape Town, Bcom (Accounting) |
Who Was Raymond Ackerman
Raymond Ackerman (born 10 March 1931, Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa) was a businessman notably recognized for his transformative role in founding and growing the Pick n Pay Group, one of South Africa’s largest and most successful retail chains.
He bought four Pick n Pay Stores from Jack Goldin in 1966, and turned it into one of the largest supermarket chain store in South Africa. Also, he was the Chairman until he stepped down in 2010.
Raymond Ackerman Earlier Life
Raymond Ackerman obtain a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Town.
At age 20, Raymond had started to work. He worked as a trainee in the Ackerman’s store, a clothing outfit owned by his father, Gus Ackerman. Later on, the company was acquired by the Greatermans group. The Greaterman group expanded into food retailing stores called Checkers. Ackerman was in charge of managing Checkers and made a success of the new business. But after 15 years of serving in the Greatermans store, Raymond was fired in 1966.
Raymond Ackerman Wife and Children
Raymond Ackerman is married to Wendy, also one of the richest women in South Africa. Their union is blessed with four children who are also involved in the family business.
Ackerman handed over to his eldest son, Gareth in 2010. His other children are; Suzzane, Kathryn, and Jonathan.
Raymond Ackerman Career
Raymond Ackerman was a prominent South African entrepreneur renowned for his founding of the Pick ‘n Pay supermarket chain. Graduating with a commerce degree from the University of Cape Town, he embarked on his career at the age of 20, joining the Ackermans division of the Greatermans group as a trainee manager.
In 1967, Raymond and his wife, Wendy, ventured to establish Pick ‘n Pay, acquiring four stores in Cape Town. Under Ackerman’s leadership, the company rapidly burgeoned, evolving into one of South Africa’s largest and most influential supermarket chains. Ackerman’s entrepreneurial genius was evident in his pioneering business practices, including the introduction of self-service and generic brands.
Beyond business acumen, Raymond Ackerman was distinguished by his unwavering commitment to social responsibility. He championed affordable food access for low-income families and fervently advocated for racial equality, playing a significant role in the dismantling of apartheid.
Retiring from Pick ‘n Pay in 2000, Ackerman remained an active force in philanthropy and co-founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Ackerman Family Foundation, supporting various educational and social initiatives. His notable contributions garnered him South Africa’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Baobab.
Raymond Ackerman Achievement and Awards
Award Winnings:
- One of First Outstanding Young South Africans, FOYSA Award, 1965
- Honorary Doctorate in Law, Rhodes University, 1986
- Paul Harris Fellowship Award from Rotary International, 1987
- One of the World’s Top 40 Marketing Superstars, Advertising Age International, 1993
- Businessman of the Year of the Year, Argus, 1994
- Business Achiever of the Year, Herald Times, 1994
- Outstanding Business Leadership, the Indian Academy of South Africa, 1996
- Melvin Jones Fellow, Lions Clubs International, 1999
- IMM Millenium Achievement Award, The Institute of Marketing Management, 1999
- One of the 100 most influential south Africans who shaped the twentieth century, 1999
- Honorary Doctorate in Commerce, University of Cape Town, 2001
- Pioneer Award, South African Council of Shopping Centers, 2001
- Second Paul Harris Fellow Award, Rotary International, 2001
- Protea Award, Association of Marketers, 2001
- Lifetime Achiever Award, Sunday Times, 2001
- 79 in the Top 100 Great South Africans, 2004
- The Only South African among the world’s 100 greatest business leaders, Financial Times, 2004
- Award for Corporate Citizenship, Woodrow Wilson Center, 2008
- David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership in Africa Award, The Synergos Institute SA, 2010
- Honorary Doctorate, University of South Africa (UNISA), 2011
- Luminary Award, Free Market Foundation (FMF), 2014
- Honorary Doctor of Letter, Rutgers Camden, 2016
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