Pick n Pay bags local suppliers

Supermarket retailer recruits closer to home

WHEN retailer Pick n Pay looked at its top suppliers a few years ago, the list was dominated by five top companies, mostly from abroad.

Yesterday speaking at its Kenilworth headquarters, the supermarket chain founder Raymond Ackerman said the retailer wanted more local business on that list and had started working towards transforming its procurement processes.

It now had more than 300 local suppliers for its stores around South Africa, but to get to that point it needed to become involved in building local business.

One way to do this, he hoped, was through the recently launched Boost Your Biz competition, which transformed small businesses into credible suppliers.

A total of 50 entrepreneurs had been shortlisted for a sixweek course that would result in half gaining access to retail space in Pick n Pay stores.

Some of these businesses would also supply the retailer with services it needed inhouse.

The competition, which had an initial 540 online applicants, called for suppliers including producers of edible and nonedible goods, health, beauty and baby products, clothing and fresh produce.

Small businesses offering services in the technological sector, transport and logistics were also eligible to enter.

Suzanne Ackerman- Berman, the retailer’s transformation director, said some of the interesting small businesses they had looked at included a scooter service to “assist with online retail deliveries”.

Among the 50 finalists is the creator of a “new innovation to attach a dummy to a baby” and a shoe manufacturer, said Ackerman-Berman.

“Transformation of the procurement sector needs a conscious effort. It’s easy to have a product but how do you get in to the market? We reach out to help small suppliers.”

Apart from access to the market, small businesses also receive mentorship as well as access to the retailer’s lawyers and tax experts for advice.

Some of the retailer’s suppliers were on hand to offer advice to potential recruits yesterday.

Peter Nyati, who runs Tropical Mushrooms, said he learnt very quickly the “customer is unforgiving”.

yazeed.kamaldien@inl.co.za

BUSINESS OWNER: Ntombie Nonxuba started working in her mother’s clothing business when she was a child. She now supplies uniforms to Pick n Pay stores countrywide.