Dieter Schwarz

Dieter Schwarz is a German billionaire businessman, and owner of the Schwarz-Gruppe. He is the chairman and CEO of the supermarket chain Lidl, and the hypermarket chain Kaufland.

• Dieter Schwarz‘s Schwarz Group, with revenue exceeding $100 billion, is comprised of the Kaufland and Lidl (rhymes with needle) store chains.
• 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 Lidl into Germany’s second-biggest discounter behind Aldi.
• 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.