Large retailers with significant supplier networks, like Pick n Pay’s stated commitment to job creation through store expansion and franchise growth, illustrate how a retail chain’s economic footprint extends far beyond its own direct employees into thousands of suppliers, franchisees and their own workforces.
Why large retailers frame growth around employment, not just revenue
A retailer’s genuine economic contribution includes not just its own direct staff but the employment supported through its entire supplier base and franchise network, a scale of impact that reframes store expansion and refurbishment investment as fundamentally a jobs strategy, not simply a retail growth strategy. Public commitments to job creation targets also signal to government and communities that a retailer sees employment as core to its social licence to operate, not incidental to its business.
Why franchise networks matter for broader economic participation
Franchise ownership, particularly when a meaningful share of franchises are black-owned, extends a retailer’s economic impact into genuine business ownership opportunities beyond direct employment, giving individual entrepreneurs a stake in the retail chain’s overall growth. Retailers with a large franchise network also play a role in helping smaller local suppliers integrate into formal, national-scale supply chains, a genuine capacity-building function beyond simply stocking their products.
What this means for small suppliers and aspiring franchisees
Small suppliers and emerging farmers should view large retail chains’ stated supplier and franchise growth commitments as a genuine access point worth pursuing directly, since retailers actively expanding this network have a stated interest in bringing in new, smaller partners. Understanding a retailer’s specific supplier onboarding and franchise application process, rather than assuming these opportunities are only for existing large-scale suppliers, is worth the research effort for a growing small business.
Frequently asked questions
How does a large retailer’s economic impact extend beyond its own direct employees?
Through its supplier network and franchise system, which together employ far more people than the retailer’s own direct staff.
Why do retailers publicly commit to job creation targets?
It signals to government and communities that employment is core to their social licence to operate, not incidental to the business.
Why does franchise ownership matter for broader economic participation?
It extends economic impact into genuine business ownership opportunities, particularly when a meaningful share of franchises are black-owned.
Do large retailers help smaller suppliers access formal supply chains?
Yes, retailers with extensive franchise and supplier networks often play a genuine capacity-building role beyond simply stocking products.
Should small suppliers pursue relationships with large retail chains actively expanding?
Yes, retailers actively growing their supplier and franchise network have a stated interest in bringing in new, smaller partners.
Originally published in July 2018. Updated September 2026.
Employment and small business support via the Department of Employment and Labour.
