Pick n Pay – South African trademarks

Updated 8 November 2026

Pick n Pay is a JSE-listed South African supermarket group. It also trades as Boxer and sells a wide range of own-brand products.

How Pick n Pay has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.

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#38largest trademark owner in South Africa (of 121,626)
1,076trademarks filed
48different logos published since 2020
44of 45 classes used
1973first trademark filed
367filed in the last 10 years

Pick n Pay trademarks in 45 seconds

Pick n Pay trademarks in 45 seconds

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/pick-n-pay-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html

A portfolio built over time

Pick n Pay filed its first South African trademark in 1973 and has filed 1,076 since; its busiest year was 2014, with 105 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.

Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.

The names behind the portfolio

Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.

NameMarksFiling years
Pick n Pay1,1061973–2025
Pick N Pay Pay Retailers Property41987–1987
Pick N Pay Stores31993–1993
Early Worx 64412004–2004
Pick N Paint Hardware Stores12005–2005

Where Pick n Pay expanded its business

Trademark classes show what a business sells. Pick n Pay's portfolio is concentrated in meat, dairy & oils (class 29), advertising & retail (class 35), coffee, flour & sweets (class 30). Its most recent moves were into medical & beauty care (2004), restaurants & hotels (2002), advertising & retail (1974).

Pick n Pay trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Pick n Pay trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/pick-n-pay-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html

Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.

ClassMarksShareSince
29 Meat, dairy & oils10910.1%1973
35 Advertising & retail1029.5%1974
30 Coffee, flour & sweets1009.3%1973
31 Fresh produce & pet food595.5%1974
16 Paper & print545.0%1974
5 Pharmaceuticals545.0%1974
32 Beer & soft drinks524.8%1974
3 Cosmetics & cleaning484.5%1974

The brands Pick n Pay protects most

The word marks and logo names Pick n Pay has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.

#BrandTrademarksClassesFiled
1PICK N PAY75431973–2014
2PNP42292013–2021
3HYPERMARK39391974–1982
4INSIDE & OUT32172002–2002
5NO NAME30241977–2010
6PICK'N PAY GREEN ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY26261989–1989
7P N P20191987–2010
8NO FRILLS1892001–2004
9BABY STEPS1862018–2023
10RED GLOVE17131999–2004
11BOXERCOM1472020–2020
12HOME SQUARE1462018–2023
13YUM FUN1422018–2022
14PICK LOCAL FROM OUR COMMUNITY WITH CARE10102016–2016
15PICK LOCAL LOCALLY PRODUCED SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS10102016–2016

Logos filed most often (since 2020)

Pick n Pay trademark logo
26 filings · 11 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
21 filings · 10 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
15 filings · 5 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
15 filings · 3 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
13 filings · 2 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
10 filings · 9 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
7 filings · 7 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
6 filings · 6 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
6 filings · 3 classes
Pick n Pay trademark logo
5 filings · 4 classes

Pick n Pay's logos

The 48 different logos Pick n Pay has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.

How quickly its trademarks are registered

Over the last five years, Pick n Pay's marks took a median of 3.4 years from filing to registration, slower than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 2.5 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance. In 2026 the median jumped to 4.1 years: older applications – many filed years earlier – were finally accepted and registered, as the registry worked through its examination backlog.

Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.

Who files the most in Pick n Pay's classes

Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Pick n Pay's main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Pick n Pay's market position, not who is most like it.

In the last five years, Pick n Pay was #6 of 919 filers in class 29 (meat, dairy & oils), with 25 of 2,013 trademarks; #33 of 5,866 filers in class 35 (advertising & retail), with 16 of 11,124 trademarks; #13 of 1,368 filers in class 30 (coffee, flour & sweets), with 23 of 3,209 trademarks.

Pick n Pay's share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.

Top trademark filers in class 29 (meat, dairy & oils), South Africa 1975–2024: Pick n Pay

Top trademark filers in class 29 (meat, dairy & oils), South Africa 1975–2024: Pick n Pay

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/pick-n-pay-south-african-trademarks/class-29-race-video.html

Main competitors – the companies most like Pick n Pay

Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Pick n Pay's – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.

Pick n Pay's closest competitors in South Africa are Shoprite, Woolworths, SPAR and Food Lovers.

Pick n Pay trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Pick n Pay trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/pick-n-pay-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html

Trademark filings per year: Pick n Pay (orange) and its five closest competitors.

#CompanyRelationshipSimilarity
1ShopriteDirect competitor98%
2WoolworthsDirect competitor93%
3SPARDirect competitor75%
4Food LoversDirect competitor71%
5Tiger BrandsRelated field80%
6LibstarRelated field76%
7CloverRelated field73%
8RCL FoodsRelated field70%
9NestléRelated field70%
10RFG FoodsRelated field68%

Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.

Pick n Pay – relevant export countries

South Africa exported US$9.4 billion of the goods Pick n Pay's main classes cover in the last year – meat; jams; fish; jellies (class 29); coffee; bread; flour; spices (class 30); fresh fruit; seeds; vegetables; natural plants and flowers (class 31); paper; printed matter; photographs; stationery (class 16); dietary supplements; pharmaceutical preparations; dietetic food and substances adapted; disinfectants (class 5). Combining where these goods are exported, imported, growing and made (and copied), and what protection costs, these are the markets where Pick n Pay's trademarks matter most.

Where South Africa exports Pick n Pay's top goods

Pick n Pay's trademarks most often cover meat, coffee, fresh fruit, paper and dietary supplements. South Africa's ten largest export markets for these goods took 57% of its exports of them in 2024.

South Africa's exports of each good to the country in 2024 (US$ million). The goods are the ones Pick n Pay's specifications mention most in its main classes; the figures are national exports, not the company's own sales.

Adjust the weightings

These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.

Worldwide

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1European Union82US$2.5 billion+2%NationalUS$2,388
2United Kingdom71US$791 m+1%NationalUS$1,371
3United States of America70US$370 m-0%NationalUS$3,425
4Japan62US$62 m-4%NationalUS$1,774
5Switzerland61US$54 m+17%NationalUS$1,660
6Russian Federation60US$254 m-3%NationalUS$1,915
7Hong Kong SAR57US$88 m-0%NationalUS$1,715
8Philippines56US$57 m+3%NationalUS$1,526
9Nigeria55US$73 m-11%NationalUS$1,015
10Malawi55US$82 m+26%ARIPOUS$450

Africa

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1Nigeria55US$73 m-11%NationalUS$1,015 S&Z
2Malawi55US$82 m+26%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
3OAPI (17 states)55US$140 m+6%NationalUS$1,563 S&Z
4Mozambique53US$320 m+8%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
5Zimbabwe53US$309 m+10%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
6Lesotho52US$198 m+4%NationalUS$326
7Egypt51US$22 m-2%NationalUS$2,278
8Eswatini50US$168 m-2%NationalUS$446
9Algeria50US$5.0 m+15%NationalUS$1,445
10Botswana49US$336 m-1%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z

SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 5 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$301 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.

Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.

Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z

BrandClassesNigeriaOAPI (17 states)
PICK N PAY43US$8,729US$8,581
PNP29US$5,887US$5,995
HYPERMARK39US$7,917US$7,842
INSIDE & OUT17US$3,451US$3,779
NO NAME24US$4,872US$5,072

S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.

TM Country Selection  Rank the countries for your own goods and get the quotes.

Word marks you may have considered opposing

For Pick n Pay's five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Pick n Pay's own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.

Similar to PICK N PAY (classes 16, 29, 30, 31, 35; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to PNP (classes 16, 29, 30, 31, 35; searched 2021-12-22 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to HYPERMARK (classes 16, 29, 30, 31, 35; searched 2022-06-29 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to INSIDE & OUT (classes 16, 35; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to NO NAME (classes 16, 29, 30, 31, 35; searched 2018-07-25 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.

How S&Z can help you

S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.

We manage your trademarks – not just file them

Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:

Renewal managementEvery renewal date in your portfolio tracked and paid online.
Competitor watchGet real-time competitor analysis.
Similar-mark watchNew word marks that come close to yours, found as they are published using SimTM.
Expansion into AfricaLowest-cost trademark expansion into Africa - Nigeria, OAPI.

Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices

S&Z prices – South African trademarks

Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificateUS$240
Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same timeUS$225
Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing)R1,027
≈ US$62.29

Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.

Pick n Pay's next five years of renewals

379 of Pick n Pay's registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$23,607 over the five years.

Pick n Pay: frequently asked questions

What should Pick n Pay consider for its trademarks?
  • Where to file next: its goods sell strongly in Nigeria, Malawi and OAPI (17 states) – markets where South African exports of the same goods are large or growing, and where S&Z files at its own all-in prices (see “Pick n Pay – relevant export countries”).
  • Fewer new brands: new brand names fell from 12.8 to 12.2 a year – worth reviewing whether planned launches are being protected early enough.
  • Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.
Which are the top export countries for Pick n Pay's goods?
For the five goods Pick n Pay's trademarks cover most, South Africa's largest export markets in 2024 were Netherlands, United Kingdom, China, United Arab Emirates and United States. The ten markets in the chart take 57% of these exports, and 8% of that goes to other African countries. The largest of these markets per good: meat (US$402 million): United Arab Emirates, China, Namibia; coffee (US$43 million): Namibia, Zimbabwe, United States; fresh fruit (US$5.6 billion): Netherlands, United Kingdom, China; paper (US$708 million): Zimbabwe, Namibia, United States; dietary supplements (US$261 million): Zimbabwe, Namibia, United Kingdom. Exports to Namibia move freely within the Southern African Customs Union, but a South African trademark does not protect a brand there – each country needs its own registration (or an ARIPO designation). These are national export figures for the goods, not the company's own sales. Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.
Which of Pick n Pay's brands have been protected the longest?
Several of Pick n Pay's brands have been protected for generations and are still being filed today: H (first filed 1974, most recently 2023); BOXER (first filed 1977, most recently 2018); REAL BABY (first filed 1996, most recently 2016); REAL HOME (first filed 2009, most recently 2018); PNP (first filed 2013, most recently 2021). Brands that are refiled over decades – in new classes, new logos or updated packaging – keep their protection current as the business changes.
How many new brands does Pick n Pay launch each year?
Counting only brand names it had never filed before, Pick n Pay filed about 12.2 new brand names a year over the last five complete years, fewer than the 12.8 a year in the five years before; its busiest year in the last decade was 2019, with 23. Its closest competitors averaged 12.5 new brand names a year over the same period (Shoprite 19.8, Woolworths 22.2, SPAR 5.8, Food Lovers 3.6, Tiger Brands 11.2). New brand names are a good indicator of product launches and innovation.
How broadly does Pick n Pay protect each brand?
Pick n Pay has filed 284 different brand names. 51% of them are protected in a single class, while 43 cover five classes or more – the widest is PICK N PAY, in 43 classes. A brand used beyond its core product (merchandise, services, related goods) needs protection in each of those classes: in South Africa each class is a separate application.
When in the year does Pick n Pay usually file trademarks?
Over the last ten years, Pick n Pay filed most often in November (21% of its filings), March (16%) and June (10%); the busiest quarter was Q1 (33%). Filing well before a launch matters: rights in South Africa date from the filing date, and examination can take more than a year.
Why did some of Pick n Pay's trademarks take more than five years to register?
Of Pick n Pay's trademarks registered in the last two years, 43% had waited more than four years since filing. Almost all of that time is examination: the South African registry has been working through a backlog, so many applications filed in 2020–2022 are only now being accepted. Once a mark is accepted, it is advertised and normally registered within about six months. Prompt responses to the registry's examination reports (office actions) avoid adding further delay.
How long do Pick n Pay's South African trademarks last, and when must they be renewed?
A South African trademark registration lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods indefinitely. Renewal can be paid in the months before the due date, and a six-month grace period applies after it, with a late-payment fee; a mark that is not renewed is removed from the register. A registered mark can also be challenged if it has not been used for five years or more, so use matters as much as renewal.
Do Pick n Pay's South African trademarks protect its brands elsewhere in Africa?
No – trademarks are territorial, and a South African registration covers South Africa only. South Africa is not a member of the Madrid system, so international registration is not available to South African applicants. Protection elsewhere in Africa comes from national filings (for example Nigeria), a single OAPI registration covering 17 West and Central African states, or a regional ARIPO application designating member states such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. S&Z files in all of these, including Nigeria together with South Africa (SANi).
What can Pick n Pay do if someone files a mark similar to one of its brands?
When a new application is advertised for opposition, the owner of an earlier, similar mark can oppose it – in South Africa within three months of the advertisement (this period can be extended). After registration, a conflicting mark can still be challenged through rectification of the register, and use of a confusingly similar mark can be stopped through an infringement action. The key is seeing new applications in time, which is what a similar-mark watch does.
What is SimTM?
SimTM is the similar-trademark technology behind GlobalIPCo's South African trademark watching services, which S&Z uses. It identifies newly published trademarks that sound or look similar to a registered mark, at four levels of sensitivity that progressively widen the marks flagged – from the most relevant to marks of more general interest. It is fast enough to check every trademark journal as it is published, so owners can be alerted to similar marks while they can still be opposed within the three-month opposition period. The word marks listed under “Word marks you may have considered opposing” were found with SimTM's two closest levels and then reviewed, so only marks we consider confusingly similar to Pick n Pay's brands are shown.
How accurate is the information on this page?
The figures, charts and videos on this page are based on trademark and trade data obtained by S&Z, and are only as accurate as that data. Records can be incomplete, delayed or contain errors, and linking marks to Pick n Pay and its group companies involves judgement. S&Z therefore does not guarantee that all the information is 100% accurate or complete. It is a general overview, not legal advice: please contact S&Z before relying on it for a filing, renewal, opposition or other decision.