Who Owns Aldi?

Aldi's history begins in 1913 when Anna Albrecht opened a small grocery store in Essen, Germany. However, the foundation of the modern Aldi business came in 1946 when her sons Karl and Theo Albrecht returned from military service in World War II and took over their mother's grocery store. The brothers expanded the business rapidly in post-war Germany, focusing on a revolutionary discount retail model that emphasized efficiency, limited product selection, and rock-bottom prices. Their approach was perfectly timed, serving a population recovering from wartime devastation and hungry for affordable necessities. By 1950, the brothers had expanded to 13 stores throughout the Ruhr Valley region.

The brothers pioneered numerous retail innovations that would later become standard practice in discount retail. They eliminated expensive counter service in favor of self-service shelves, reduced inventory to a limited selection of high-turnover items, sold products directly from shipping boxes to reduce handling costs, and focused primarily on private label products rather than national brands. They operated small, efficient stores with minimal staffing and no decorative elements. By 1955, the Albrecht brothers had expanded to 100 stores and established the name "Albrecht Discount," which would later be shortened to "Aldi."

In 1961, Karl and Theo Albrecht made the momentous decision to divide their company into two separate entities: ALDI NORD (North), controlled by Theo, and ALDI SÜD (South), controlled by Karl. This division was reportedly triggered by a disagreement over whether to sell cigarettes in their stores, with Theo favoring their sale and Karl opposing it. The brothers divided Germany along the "Aldi equator" – a line running roughly along the River Ruhr – with ALDI NORD taking northern Germany and ALDI SÜD operating in southern Germany. This separation allowed each brother to focus on his respective region while maintaining the same business model and brand identity.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Aldi expanded aggressively across Germany and began international expansion. ALDI SÜD entered Austria in 1967, marking the company's first international venture. The 1970s saw both divisions expand into new European markets, with ALDI NORD entering the Netherlands in 1973 and Belgium in 1976. In a significant strategic move, ALDI NORD acquired the American specialty grocery chain Trader Joe's in 1979 for approximately $150 million, though it maintained Trader Joe's distinct brand identity and operational approach.

The 1980s and 1990s saw Aldi expand globally into major English-speaking markets. ALDI SÜD entered the United Kingdom in 1990, the United States in 1976, and Australia in 1983. Initially, Aldi faced skepticism in these markets where consumers were accustomed to supermarkets with extensive product selections and amenities. In the US particularly, Aldi's early stores were often located in lower-income areas and struggled with perception issues. However, through persistence and gradual adaptation to local preferences, Aldi began gaining market acceptance.

The 2000s and 2010s marked a period of accelerated growth and modernization for both Aldi divisions. The 2008 global financial crisis proved pivotal for Aldi's positioning, as budget-conscious middle-class consumers discovered the value proposition of discount grocery shopping. This period saw Aldi evolve from being perceived primarily as a store for low-income shoppers to gaining broader market acceptance across demographic groups. Both ALDI SÜD and ALDI NORD invested heavily in store renovations, expanded organic and premium private label offerings, and increased fresh food selections. In the United States, ALDI SÜD announced a $5 billion expansion plan in 2017 to increase its store count from 1,700 to 2,500 by 2022 and renovate existing locations.

The 2020s have seen Aldi continue its evolution while maintaining its core discount philosophy. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated several trends already underway, including Aldi's expansion into e-commerce and home delivery partnerships. In 2024, ALDI SÜD completed its acquisition of Southeastern Grocers in the United States, though it divested approximately 170 Winn-Dixie and Harvey Supermarket stores in early 2025. Today, Aldi operates over 10,000 stores worldwide across both divisions, employs more than 250,000 people, and serves millions of customers daily. The company has evolved from a single post-war grocery store to one of the world's most successful retail enterprises while maintaining its founding principles of efficiency, simplicity, and customer value.