He stepped up acquisitions and also expanded the chain of retail outlets.

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By 1979, Pep Stores made its foray into the food retailing business with its acquisition of Shoprite, a small chain of retail outlets spread across South Africa.

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Undaunted, Green set his sights on British Home Stores, the country's fifth-largest retail chain: 156 outlets with 4.4 million square feet of space stocked with everything from housewares to bridesmaids' dresses.

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