Pick n Pay & Virgin Active shutting down stores should be a wake-up call for mall owners, says expert.

Loading player...
GUEST - John Jack, CEO of Galetti Corporate Real Estate

Pick n Pay’s strategic downscaling marks a turning point for the South African retail sector. Under the leadership of returning CEO Sean Summers, one of the country’s largest retailers is undergoing a significant ‘back to basics’ reset, which includes the closure or conversion of more than 100 underperforming stores and the closure of more than 30 stores to date. “They’re not just downsizing for the sake of it,” says John Jack, CEO of Galetti Corporate Real Estate. “This is about cutting back to the core and building a leaner, more profitable machine that can actually respond to where the market is now and not where it was five years ago.
19 Jun 2025 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

PPS Delivers R6.88bn in Profit‑Share

PPS Group CEO Izak Smit unpacks a second consecutive record year, with R6.88bn allocated to members and R6.67bn paid in claims. He explains the strength of the mutual model.
22 Apr 4PM 16 min

Capitec’s R16.8bn Year

Capitec CEO Graham Lee discusses the bank’s 23% earnings surge, its diversified business model, and the rapid rise of digital payments.
22 Apr 4PM 14 min

Inflation Through the Eyes of the Consumer

Eighty20 Director Andrew Fulton translates the CPI numbers into real‑world household pressure. From meat‑led food inflation to the looming oil shock, he explores which consumers are most exposed and how spending behaviour is shifting.
22 Apr 4PM 9 min

SA’s Draft AI Policy: The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Free SA spokesperson Gideon Joubert discusses the organization's concerns about South Africa’s Draft National AI Policy—including expanded bureaucracy, duplicated institutions, and barriers for startups.
21 Apr 4PM 5 min