FNBB, Pick n' Pay Break New Ground

Martin Nyirenda
Correspondent | Monday August 10, 2009 00:00

At least all 14 Score supermarkets across the country to be converted into Pick n' Pay stores will be beefed up with FNB kiosks offering an array of banking and financial services to the shopper.

These will include enquiries on new account opening, cheque and savings accounts, as well as loan applications for vehicle and asset financing, personal loans, property finance, credit card applications and registration for Internet and cell phone banking. Cheque deposits will be accepted as well.

FNBB's head of sales Ompatile Kalaben said that the partnership between the Pick n' Pay and the bank is timely and a first, adding that the business partnership concept would be replicated in South Africa, as the FNB group was learning from Botswana.He said that the banking hours will range  from 9 am to 4 pm, thus bringing banking services closer to the people.

In an interview, Pick n' Pay Botswana CEO, Mahesh Patel said that converting the former Score supermarkets into what is now a fully-pledged Pick n' Pay in Lobatse cost a staggering P7 million, adding that the investment would differ with each conversion depending on the size of the store.

He said Lobatse Score  was the first of the 13 supermarkets on the takeover list.
Director for Pick n' Pay (Africa) Frans van der Colff stated in an interview that it is cardinal for companies to ensure that they plough back the profits generated into countries where they conduct businesses.He said that Pick n' Pay is committed to ensuring that local people are empowered to operate successful businesses.

'I am proud that the new Pick n' Pay in Lobatse is bringing a new experience of shopping closer to the community with the best prices that are affordable by the average person,' he said.

Meanwhile, the franchisees of the business are Bakang Modise and Kagiso Mongwaketse who later reaffirmed their commitment to Vision 2016 pillar of 'Caring and compassionate nation' when they donated to organisations charged with uplifting the lives of the needy.

They hoped that the opening of the Pick n' Pay store would create employment opportunities for many young graduates roaming the streets in Lobatse, one of the towns experiencing high unemployment levels.

As part of their corporate social responsibility, the two entrepreneurs donated P5,000 to Botswana Council of Women, an organisation looking after disadvantaged women and P5,000 to Hope, which cares for the HIV-infected and affected.

Botswana Psycho Social Rehabilitation (looking after orphans) also received P5,000.

Pick n' Pay pledged to support the agenda of engaging women and farmers in the business so that they are able to participate in the sustainable economic diversification drive.