Pick n Pay inspires nothing.

Gone are the days when a super market tried to lure customers with cheaper prices and better products. It has now become a case of covering their customers in PR bullshit. Nothing annoys me more than pretence and Pick n Pay is no exception, especially their “new” slogan: Inspired by you

Every time I see that slogan or one of their ads I want to vomit all over Luke Watson or Julius Malema. Inspired by me!? Do they seriously believe that I am going to fall for that horse shit? Am I now suddenly going to develop warm fuzzy feelings towards them because they pretend to have a connection to me beyond just wanting me to spend my cash at their stores? The only thing about me that inspires Pick n Pay is how much cash they can get me to part with, repeatedly and not suing them in the process – that’s it and they should stop pretending otherwise. Their sole existence is based on making money and nothing else.

So what would make me shop at them repeatedly?  Just four things:

- Cut out all the PR crap, stop trying to be clever or deceptive, be honest and transparent. Stop encouraging people to spend on creating false needs etc.

- Only sell food which is healthy (they could stop selling cigarettes for starters to show that they actually give a crap). For instance by walking into Pick n Pay, I know that they have my best interests in mind because there are no products on the shelf which contain ingredients which could be detrimental to my health. There are no products on their shelves with deceptive advertising, falsely using things like “healthy”, “nutritious” etc. I would happily pay a slight premium in return for them looking out for my interests. They could start by just checking out this website: www.ewg.org

- Create special food sections for those among us who are “poor”. Maybe in the form of food parcels which will see a family through the month at a good price and which is healthy. Put the section in a part of a store where they won’t be tempted to buy other crap.

- Actually care about the environment, stop stocking any products which has an adverse impact on the planet, get creative, get serious. Stop buying from suppliers who pump pollution into the environment, or riddle it with toxins, chemicals, hormones, antibiotics etc etc.

That’s it. And if the shareholders moan – tough shit. It is time that shareholders also take responsibility for the companies they invest in instead of just trying to “maximise profits” and screw the consequences.

As for freedom of choice – Refer to my first point.

PS. And do not even get me started on Spar’s “Good for you”