Founded in 1965, PEP operated in 11 countries in Southern Africa with the opening of an outlet in Lobito, Angola in November 2008.

[3] In 1955, after putting himself through university, the son of a poor South African farmer, Renier van Rooyen, started running a bargain shop part-time in Upington with no previous retail experience in partnership with Gawie Esterhuyzen while they ran other businesses.

Eventually becoming more experienced and involved full-time van Rooyen began restructuring and expanding the bargain store, buying out his partner Esterhuyzen in 1956.

He amalgamated the two discount stores and added a small warehouse under a holding company called BG Bazaars by 1960 and started expanding outside of Upington.

BG Bazaars built quick success by offering good quality clothing, blankets, and shoes at very low prices, maintaining low overheads, and providing friendly personal service focusing on underserved markets similar to the modern retail giant Wal-Mart.