Pick n Pay: Sunday trading profit to go to charity

Instead of closing its stores on the day of Nelson Mandela’s funeral, Pick n Pay has decided to trade and donate all of the day’s proceeds to charitable causes in honour of the late statesman’s memory. Other big retailers, including Massmart, Shoprite, Woolworths, Clicks, Pep Stores, Italtile, Tile Africa and Ackermans will close their stores on Sunday, December 15, to allow staff to be with their families. Pick n Pay chief executive Richard Brasher said: “In discussion with many of our staff and customers, I have decided that the most positive and fitting contribution that Pick n Pay can make is to donate all profits that we make from sales in our stores on Sunday.” He said he had considered closing stores on the day, “but many staff and customers wanted us to do more… we are proud that we have found a way to do so”. However, Pick n Pay has been criticised by the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu), which said the decision to trade would deprive workers of the opportunity to join the nation in mourning. Shares in Pick n Pay Stores gained 0.14 percent to close at R50.40 on the JSE yesterday. – Business Report