Which family founded the German discount supermarket chain Aldi?

The Albrecht family founded the German discount supermarket chain Aldi.

Brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht took over their mother’s small grocery business in Essen after the Second World War. They expanded the stores using a low-cost model focused on limited ranges, rapid stock turnover and low prices. The name Aldi comes from “Albrecht Diskont,” combining the family name with the German word for discount.

Aldi is often confused with Lidl because both are German discount chains, but Lidl belongs to the Schwarz Group. Aldi itself was divided into two legally separate businesses in 1961: Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd. The division followed a disagreement between the brothers over whether the stores should sell cigarettes.

The Albrecht family became one of Germany’s wealthiest business families. The two Aldi groups operate in different countries and regions, but both trace their origins to the Albrecht brothers’ grocery business. Their private ownership and minimalist retail model helped define modern discount supermarket retailing.