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King of Discount: Aldi Founder Theo Albrecht Dies [multi-billionaire, Trader Joe's owner]
Der Spiegel / SPIEGEL Online ^ | 07/28/2010 | Susanne Amann and Janko Tietz

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Germany; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aldi; business; economy; germany
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To: x

And they had to become capitalists to do it.


21 posted on 07/28/2010 3:08:36 PM PDT by I still care (I believe in the universality of freedom -George Bush, asked if he regrets going to war.)
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To: married21
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.

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.

22 posted on 07/28/2010 3:11:07 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: 2Jedismom

Aldi’s ping!


23 posted on 07/28/2010 3:12:10 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: wolf78

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


24 posted on 07/28/2010 3:28:50 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: wolf78

No Aldi or Trader Joe’s where I am, but I shopped at Aldi stores while stationed in Germany. I loved them!!!


25 posted on 07/28/2010 3:44:02 PM PDT by Allthegoodusernamesaregone
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To: I still care

American “buffalo” are considered “bison” by Europeans. Real Mozzarella is made with European buffalo milk.


26 posted on 07/28/2010 3:45:42 PM PDT by dangus
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

I buy my fish from there, too. Tonight we’re having their “frozen” chicken breasts with gravy and stuffing.


27 posted on 07/28/2010 3:49:45 PM PDT by Sacajaweau (What)
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To: Sacajaweau

Aldi’s salmon on a bed of steamed okra and rice. Ready to cook right now!


28 posted on 07/28/2010 3:58:44 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: married21
Totally agree about the discontinued items at T Joe's.

Loved their spinach puffs and a mango dessert. Neither available anymore.

29 posted on 07/28/2010 4:01:10 PM PDT by Churchillspirit (9/11/01...NEVER FORGET.)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

I usually cook a couple pieces for myself...let one get cold...great snack with horseradish and mayo sauce.


30 posted on 07/28/2010 4:07:41 PM PDT by Sacajaweau (What)
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To: SuziQ
A couple of years ago I was in a port on the Mexican Coast east of Baja. I was having coffee when I overheard a conversation; a farmer was singing the blues because Japanese buyers had rejected half his asparagus harvest because, believe it or not, the spears were bent. He was on his way to Tucson, and I told him to contact Trader Joe;s. Saw him six months later. He bought me a very expensive bottle of tequila. Seems TJs would take the spears and cut them into bite sized sections and sell them at a good price. TJs is indeed a great marketing outfit.
31 posted on 07/28/2010 4:08:03 PM PDT by Melchior
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To: Sacajaweau

Oh! That’s a good idea! Gotta be immensely better than canned salmon. Thanks for the idea!


32 posted on 07/28/2010 4:10:13 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: wolf78

Gotta trader joes 200 yards from my house. 3 buck chuck always at hand.


33 posted on 07/28/2010 4:21:04 PM PDT by joelt
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To: wolf78

When Trader Joe’s began to boycott Israeli goods, I began to boycott Trader Joe’s.


34 posted on 07/28/2010 4:48:33 PM PDT by Ranald S. MacKenzie (It's the philosophy, stupid.)
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To: Melchior

I’m sure you have a special place in that farmer’s heart!


35 posted on 07/29/2010 9:56:01 AM PDT by SuziQ
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