Pepkor
Encyclopedia
Pepkor is a South African based investment and holding company with business interests in Africa
, Australia
, United Kingdom
and Poland
. Managing a portfolio of retail chains focused on the value market and selling predominantly clothing, footwear and textiles. Its main operating subsidiaries are Pep and Ackermans in South Africa and Best & Less in Australia, all based on a high volume/lower margin business model. Formally known as PEP stores
the company changed its name to Pepkor Limited in 1982 and PEP stores became a subsidiary company. In 2011 Pepkor's chairman Christo Wiese was ranked as the 782nd richest person in the world on Forbes’s list
of the world’s 1210 billionaires with an estimated net worth of US$1,6bn. In 2011 private equity company Brait bought a 24,6% stake in Pepkor for R4,18bn, valuing the company at about R17bn. Pepkor aims to expand its presence in the rest of Africa by opening 50 stores in Nigeria
.
.
and is Pepkor's first major investment in continental Europe. It's business model focuses on offering cash-based discounts on clothing and houseware items to the lower income middle class segment of the market in small to medium-sized towns across Poland.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Managing a portfolio of retail chains focused on the value market and selling predominantly clothing, footwear and textiles. Its main operating subsidiaries are Pep and Ackermans in South Africa and Best & Less in Australia, all based on a high volume/lower margin business model. Formally known as PEP stores
Pep (store)
Pep is a multinational retail company based in Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1965, Pep operated in 11 countries in Southern Africa with the opening of an outlet in Lobito, Angola in November 2008. As of November 2009, the company reported over 1400 stores in operation, with total employment...
the company changed its name to Pepkor Limited in 1982 and PEP stores became a subsidiary company. In 2011 Pepkor's chairman Christo Wiese was ranked as the 782nd richest person in the world on Forbes’s list
Forbes list of billionaires
Forbes list of billionaires is based on an annual assessment of wealth and assets compiled and published by Forbes magazine on March 10, 2011.-Forbes list of billionaires :...
of the world’s 1210 billionaires with an estimated net worth of US$1,6bn. In 2011 private equity company Brait bought a 24,6% stake in Pepkor for R4,18bn, valuing the company at about R17bn. Pepkor aims to expand its presence in the rest of Africa by opening 50 stores in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
PEP
PEP retail stores focus on selling clothing, footwear, textiles, home ware and cellular products to the lower end of the market that aims to sell items at the lowest possible price in large volumes in both rural and urban areas. They are Pepkor's largest and first subsidiary with over 1,500 stores in countries across southern AfricaSouthern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
.
Ackermans
Ackermans focuses on selling clothing, footwear and household textiles to the middle market from 374 across South Africa. Ackermans subsidiary Jay Jays also focuses on selling the same type of products in the middle market segment in high volumes and at low prices in the Australian and New Zealand markets from its 42 stores.Best and Less
Pepkor acquired the Australian retail chain in 1998 at the start of a strong period of growth for subsidiary over a seven year period during which it doubled in size. Currently the chain has 191 stores across Australia adhering to Pepkor's business model of selling textiles in high volumes and low prices.Dunns
Dunns focuses on selling adult clothing, footwear and accessories to the middle income market from its 266 across southern Africa. It's model is to also sell high volumes at low cost but also to sell these items from stores based in shopping centres and malls.Shoe City
Shoe City focuses on selling footwear from 86 stores in South Africa. Like most Pepkor subsidiaries it focuses on selling to the mid-market segment of the retail industry in large volumes at low prices.Pepco
Pepco has 210 stores in PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and is Pepkor's first major investment in continental Europe. It's business model focuses on offering cash-based discounts on clothing and houseware items to the lower income middle class segment of the market in small to medium-sized towns across Poland.