PICK N PAY WOULD CONSIDER BUYING AUSTRALIA'S BI-LO SUPERMARKETS.

MELBOURNE, June 3 Asia Pulse - Pick `n' Pay, the South African supermarket chain operator that bought the Franklins chain, said it would consider buying discount store Bi-Lo as well if the opportunity arose.

Franklins chief executive Sean Summers said his group would give "strong consideration" if Bi-Lo, part of the Coles Myer Ltd empire, came on the market.

He said some of the factors to be considered included the financing of such an acquisition, its cost and if it would be listed on the ASX.

"We certainly would give it due consideration and strong consideration," he said.

"The issue of financing, one would have to look at what the opportunity was, what it presented, what the cost would be....

"Would it be a listing here, would it be a partial listing here, what is the situation with regards to exchange control in South Africa."

Mr Summers said Pick `n' Pay, which has been running the 70 Franklins stores, mainly in NSW, for six months, expected to be turning a profit within another six months.