Business owners pick Edenvale

The successful Baladakis family announced its investment in Edenvale when Pick n Pay Stonehill Crossing opened its doors on Thursday.

The move to Edenvale by Alex, John and Peter Baladakis from AJP Group will mean greater investor trust in the town.

Stonehill Crossing was the 12th franchise supermarket opened by the group.

The group previously took over the store at Van Riebeeck Mall in Edenvale CBD.

Thursday’s proceedings started with the symbolic placing of the first coin in the cash register by the family’s custodian, Alexander, or Mr Alex as he is affectionately known.

Members of Pick n Pay senior management attended the opening where the family was commended for their success.

“Well done to the Baladakis team. The key to their success is the fresh food,” said Mark Barnard, Pick n Pay’s franchise general manager.

“Every time they take over a store it gets better. The centre gets better and the area gets better,” Barnard said.

Wim Theron, Pick n Pay HR director, said the Baladakis family started business in Kempton Park in 1995.

“Part of their success is to do it professionally. If you are humble in business and treat people well, good things happen to you.

“I believe in the symbolic placing of the first coin in a cash register. Mr Alex can be proud. For them, it is about caring, humanity, respect and creating jobs. They help people feed their families and pay for their children’s education,” said Theron.

John handed over a donation to Saheti School principal Warwich Taylor in support of the Bizos Scholarship Fund.

“The fund goes to the very needy and it puts very bright young individuals through school at Saheti,” said John, the author of A Franchisee’s Perspective.

John has served in various leadership capacities in community and charity organisations.

“Today, we open our 12th franchise supermarket. Over the last 26 years, we have been proud to represent the brand and culture as a family and as entrepreneurs,” said Mr Alex.

Mr Alex, John and Peter have been recipients of the Pick n Pay Franchise Legend Award.

Despite the many praises for the family on the day, the proudest opening moment for the Baladakis family was a performance by the Pick n Pay choir.