Dieter Schwarz

Dieter Schwarz’s Schwarz Group, with revenue of over $140 billion, is comprised of the Kaufland and Lidl (rhymes with needle) discount supermarkets. Schwarz inherited the company from his father, Josef, who became a partner in Suedfruechte Grosshandel Lidl & Co., a fruit wholesaler, in 1930. Dieter opened the first Lidl store in 1973, became CEO in 1977 when Josef died, and built Schwarz Group into Europe’s largest retail empire. Lidl entered the U.S. in 2017, promising to convince consumers to “Rethink Grocery.” Its stores are mostly in Virginia and North and South Carolina. Schwarz Group is owned by a foundation, technically a limited liability company, but Dieter maintains full control and is the effective owner.