Doing good is good business

This was one of the founding principles of Pick n Pay. It’s in the DNA of how the company does business. But what does that mean and how are they supporting good?

“Our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility goes back to when the company celebrated its 30th anniversary,” said Bronwen Rohland Pick n Pay Marketing and Sustainability Director, “it was then that the Ackerman Pick n Pay Foundation was formed. The foundation assists small businesses and producers to develop their enterprises with funding and mentorship in order to get their products onto our shelves. This has seen many individuals start up successful and sustainable businesses.

“Because we are inspired by our customers we support a number of charitable foundations and offer sponsorships to causes that are close to our hearts and to the hearts of those who shop with us,” said Rohland.

The new Pick n Pay Goodness Campaign - which consists of a television advertisement, print, digital, and radio campaign - emphasises the journey taken to identify the Goodness that is to be found within the business.

“It’s a campaign that allows us to take stock of the work we have been doing in supporting organisations and providing sustainable support for emerging producers and small farmers. The campaign takes a journey through the various projects and businesses we have supported for many years, and is a chance to celebrate the Goodness in our organisation,” said Rohland.

The Goodness campaign launched last month and will be telling stories about sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Green Times will be sharing these inspiring stories with our readers over the next few months.

Pick n Pay prides itself on always having been there for their customers, and has a proud history of fighting for both consumer and human rights for all South Africans.

That legacy lives on, but it has evolved to include massive investment in Central Distribution Centres and their smart shopper programme. Both initiatives make shopping more affordable for their customers, offering them a great range at the lowest possible prices.

“We find goodness in giving and helping, you can find goodness with us,” said Rohland.

Let’s start with a look at what they’re doing for conservation.

Bringing nurture to nature

Pick n Pay’s relationship with the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre began in 2007 when the centre was struggling to raise an orphaned rhino calf in the midst of a countrywide milk shortage. Lente Roode, founder of the Centre, approached Pick n Pay who immediately provided milk powder to save the baby rhino.

Pick n Pay is one of the few corporate funders of the centre, which focuses on the conservation of threatened species, with cheetah conversation being one of its core missions.

Funding and assistance to the centre fulfills one of their core values that sees Pick n Pay investing more than five percent of after tax profit in corporate social responsibility projects.

Lente and her team are active in the breeding of endangered, vulnerable, or rare animal species; the education of learners, students and the public in conservation and conservation activities; ecotourism; the release and establishment of captive-bred cheetahs back into the wild; and the treatment and rehabilitation of wild animals.

Pick n Pay also sponsors the annual Hoedspruit Sustainability Festival, which gives the area a chance to showcase its work and commitment to vulnerable species.

Running a retail business isn’t just about providing a place for people to shop; it’s also about building relationships.

Growing conservation, one flower at a time

The Cape Floral Kingdom is one of the world’s richest plant kingdoms. So, how does picking up a glorious bouquet of proteas, ericas, and other flowers at Pick n Pay ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy this gift of beauty?

Fynbos is threatened by invasive species, uncontrolled fires, and challenges from climate change and human settlement where these treasures grow.

Enter the Flower Valley Conservation Trust.

Nestled between the hills of Stanford, lies a farm of a thousand different flowers. Harvesters move from flower to flower, knowing exactly what to pick and what to leave to ensure a sustainable future.

A practical passion

For many of their suppliers and pickers, harvesting flowers isn’t only a passion; it’s also about capacity building and entrepreneurial opportunities. In addition to training courses, including life skills training, which are supported by the trust, it has allowed them to develop their own picking teams and to manage their own small businesses, which now supply sustainably-harvested fynbos to FYNSA.

For Pick n Pay, the work of the trust was an ideal opportunity to put into practice one of their core values: that doing good is good business. By offering crucial small business training and financial support to the Flower Valley Conservation Trust, flowers now grace the shelves of Pick n Pay stores. By buying these flowers you are supporting the work of the trust: empowering and developing the business of bringing beauty to stores in a sustainable manner.