Pick n Pay expands Pricer ESL rollout

South African leading retailer Pick n Pay, who was behind the July 31^st 2009 Pricer Press release, is to expand the ESL roll out after a successful first phase involving 35 stores in the KwaZulu-Natal region to the  Western Cape region. Pick n Pay has also implemented the Pricer ESL system in its first 7 Pick n Pay / BP Express stores in the Western Cape.

Bronwen Rohland, Director of Supply Chain, Sustainability, Information Services and E-tailing at Pick n Pay, says that customer feedback has been very positive.  "Pricer ESL promises retailers such as Pick n Pay a number of business benefits and value, chiefly pricing integrity," says  Bronwen Rohland. "The ability to rapidly and accurately update as many as 50 000 prices every hour while reducing overhead costs on pressured labour resources, and two-way communication between the electronic shelf labels and the pricing server to ensure accuracy."

Pricer ESL was part of the Pick n Pay mission of offering the best prices at all times in the market. "Shelf price accuracy is a major benefit to consumer satisfaction levels and significantly improves customer loyalty," adds Mrs. Rohland, "which is always at a premium during trying financial periods like the recession we are in currently."

"We are pleased to see Pick n Pay expanding the ESL deployment program," says Charles Jackson, CEO at Pricer. "In this period of retail change and adaptation, we are seeing ESL giving the benefits needed for efficient and reactive store operations."

Pick n Pay started to evaluate the possible implementation of an ESL system with Pricer nearly two years ago. "The successful first phase rollout enabled the customer to measure the significant benefits of a robust two-way ESL system," says Hendrik Bredenkamp, Managing Director of Skydirect, Pricer s South African partner which ensures implementation and support. "ESL can help considerably optimizing the price changing process and supporting a dynamic pricing policy. It reduces scan right policy claims, improves profitability by ensuring timely updates of promotion prices and enhances customer experience," Mr. Bredenkamp adds.

About Skydirect

Skydirect (PTY) LTD, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, part of the XON company, offers Pricer ESL as a complete end-to-end solution for its retail customers across the continent. Among Skydirect customers are SPAR Group Ltd, with nearly 800 supermarkets in South-Africa, and Metcash, with 14 Trade Centers and 178 Cash and Carry stores.

About Pick n Pay

Founded in 1967, the Pick n Pay Group is one of the largest food retailers in Africa ( as well as clothing and general merchandise) and has nearly 25% market share in South-Africa. The integrated Pick n Pay Retail Division numbers 20 hypermarkets and more than 400 supermarkets. The group has a turnover of 50 billion Rand (over 48 billion SEK).