Business
Sean Summers Leads Pick n Pay’s Comeback to the Top of South African Retail
A Familiar Name, a New Mission
Sean Summers isn’t a man who backs down from a challenge. When he returned to Pick n Pay as chief executive in 2023, the once-mighty retailer was struggling to find its footing in a market dominated by Checkers’ innovation and Woolworths’ polish. Now, Summers says he’s on a mission to restore Pick n Pay’s crown as South Africa’s top supermarket chain.
Speaking in an interview with Biznews following the group’s interim results for the six months ending 31 August 2025, Summers admitted that rebuilding the brand won’t happen overnight. But if there’s one thing South Africans know about the veteran retailer, it’s that he’s done it before.
Numbers That Tell Two Stories
Pick n Pay’s latest financials show turnover up 4.9% to R58.8 billion, with the Boxer division once again driving most of that growth. Boxer’s sales jumped 13.9% to R22.5 billion, while Pick n Pay’s core supermarket business rose by just 0.1%, reaching R36.3 billion.
At first glance, the flat growth might seem worrying, but Summers isn’t losing sleep. Over the past year, the company closed 59 underperforming stores, a move he says was essential for long-term stability. “The optimisation of our store estate has removed a large number of loss-making stores out of the system,” he explained.
For him, it’s not about having the most stores, but about having the right ones. “It’s not a race for size,” Summers said. “It’s about being the best.”
From Glory Days to a Fall, and Back Again
Summers’ words carry weight because he’s seen Pick n Pay at its peak. After joining the company in 1974, he rose through the ranks to become managing director in 1996 and chief executive in 1999. Under his leadership, Pick n Pay outpaced Shoprite with average annual revenue growth of 16%, compared to Shoprite’s 11%, and even overtook its rival’s revenue between 2003 and 2007.
Those were the years when Pick n Pay was not just a supermarket but a symbol of national pride, a place where South Africans shopped, chatted, and built weekend memories. But after Summers left in 2007, things unravelled fast. The company lost market share, stumbled through costly mistakes, and was eventually described as “technically insolvent.”
By 2023, Pick n Pay’s board called him back to fix the damage. And while his comeback has been met with optimism, Summers admits that the problems run deep. “We were destroyed and hollowed out from the inside,” he said. “Nothing that happened to us was not self-inflicted. We forgot what we stood for.”
A Fight for the Future
Summers’ task now is to rebuild Pick n Pay’s identity in a retail landscape that has changed dramatically. Shoprite’s Checkers has redefined convenience with its Sixty60 delivery app and sleek stores, while Woolworths continues to dominate the high-end market.
Pick n Pay, meanwhile, is betting on its loyal middle-market base, better pricing, and a renewed focus on customer service. Summers believes that scaling down and focusing on quality will help the brand reclaim its edge. “We’re genuinely on a mission again to put Pick n Pay back at the top,” he said.
The Big Picture
There’s no doubt the competition is fierce, but Pick n Pay’s turnaround story feels like a test of both corporate discipline and nostalgia. For older South Africans, it’s the supermarket that once defined their daily routine. For younger shoppers, it’s a brand trying to prove it still matters in a digital age.
Summers knows that rebuilding trust will take time. But if his track record is anything to go by, the comeback might already be underway.
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: Business Tech
Featured Image: Daily Investor
