Posted on 07/28/2010 2:26:24 PM PDT by wolf78
Theo Albrecht and his brother Karl introduced the world to discount shopping when they founded Aldi half a century ago. The two intensely secretive men were considered some of the richest people in Germany. On Saturday, Theo died at the age of 88.
He was one of the richest men in Germany, and also one of the most secretive. Theo Albrecht, who co-founded the immensely successful discount grocery chain Aldi, died on Saturday according to a statement released by the company. Eighty-eight years old at the time of his death, he was laid to rest on Wednesday in a small service attended only by close family members.
Albrecht had been experiencing severe health problems for some time prior to his death. Last summer he spent several weeks in the hospital in his hometown of Essen following a fall. He never fully recovered and required extensive care toward the end of his life.
Theo and his brother Karl, who is two years older, laid the cornerstone for what became their discount empire in 1948 when they took over their mother's small grocery store. In 1961, they changed the name to Albrecht's Discount -- or "Aldi" for short. Within decades, the store became a discount chain worth billions, one which permanently changed the way food retailing was done in both Germany and across the globe.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Aldi’s has cheap stuff that is still good quality.
I miss living far from a Trader Joe's.
I love shopping at Aldi! Everything we have tried has been very good.
Thank you Mr.Albrecht, RIP.
Never seen a Trader Joe’s, but heard they are great.
Love Aldi’s.
We are headed to Trader Joe’s in a few minutes. Great prices on good quality groceries.
Nothing in this article ties these men to Trader Joes.
What’s the deal.
Aldis is great, this man was a true innovator in an industry that most ignore. RIP.
The Cinnamon Roll bread is to die for.
My wife loves ALdi’s and Trader Joe’s.
I thought that was odd, so I dug around...Theo did own TJ’s...
They were very secretive indeed. None of us has sufficient clearance to be made aware of the connection.
Maybe the next owner will build a Trader Joe’s in my area. We really miss them.
Never heard of Aldi’s, but love Trader Joe’s.
Lots of good house brand items that would cost more in the regular grocery store, like soups and dried fruits, etc. and gourmet stuff to pack a romantic picnic basket with, like wine, cheeses, breads, nuts.
Bittersweet thing about Trader Joes is that they have house brand items that you become fond of, then they get discontinued due to light demand or lack of supply at a price point the owners are willing to pay. Our favorites currently not available in the store: Trader Joseph’s Chard of Many Colors; Sir Strawberry Juice.
I get my produce from the farmer’s markets. But I get my frozen fish at Aldi’s. The price is crazy low compared to the local supermarket! And I eats a lotta fish!
Hmmm ... Germans dividing the world between them ...
We LOVE Trader Joe’s. It has great stuff like Whole Paycheck, but it’s much less expensive and not pretentious.
I used to love their Buffalo milk yogurt. I think it was water buffalo, not real buffalo.
Anyway, it had a stronger texture more like ricotta. They discontinued it, and now I can’t find it anywhere.
And they had to become capitalists to do it.
I know what you mean. A few years ago, they had an incredible Cranberry Mustard, and Vanilla Yogurt Covered Snowflake Pretzels, near Thanksgiving and Christmas. They haven't had them for a couple of years now, and it make me sad.
I've been trying to find just the plain Snowflake Pretzels, so I can coat them with Dark Chocolate, but I haven't been able to find them.
Aldi’s ping!
This also to thy very self sometimes
Repeat thou mayst: “Lo, even good Ancus left
The sunshine with his eyes, in divers things
A better man than thou, O worthless hind;
And many other kings and lords of rule
Thereafter have gone under, once who swayed
O’er mighty peoples. And he also, he-
Who whilom paved a highway down the sea,
And gave his legionaries thoroughfare
Along the deep, and taught them how to cross
The pools of brine afoot, and did contemn,
Trampling upon it with his cavalry,
The bellowings of ocean- poured his soul
From dying body, as his light was ta’en.
And Scipio’s son, the thunderbolt of war,
Horror of Carthage, gave his bones to earth,
Like to the lowliest villein in the house.
Add finders-out of sciences and arts;
Add comrades of the Heliconian dames,
Among whom Homer, sceptered o’er them all
Now lies in slumber sunken with the rest.
Then, too, Democritus, when ripened eld
Admonished him his memory waned away,
Of own accord offered his head to death.
Even Epicurus went, his light of life
Run out, the man in genius who o’er-topped
The human race, extinguishing all others,
As sun, in ether arisen, all the stars.
Wilt thou, then, dally, thou complain to go?
- Lucretius
No Aldi or Trader Joe’s where I am, but I shopped at Aldi stores while stationed in Germany. I loved them!!!
American “buffalo” are considered “bison” by Europeans. Real Mozzarella is made with European buffalo milk.
I buy my fish from there, too. Tonight we’re having their “frozen” chicken breasts with gravy and stuffing.
Aldi’s salmon on a bed of steamed okra and rice. Ready to cook right now!
Loved their spinach puffs and a mango dessert. Neither available anymore.
I usually cook a couple pieces for myself...let one get cold...great snack with horseradish and mayo sauce.
Oh! That’s a good idea! Gotta be immensely better than canned salmon. Thanks for the idea!
Gotta trader joes 200 yards from my house. 3 buck chuck always at hand.
When Trader Joe’s began to boycott Israeli goods, I began to boycott Trader Joe’s.
I’m sure you have a special place in that farmer’s heart!
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