Schwarz Gruppe
The Schwarz Group is a German multinational retailer that operates stores under the Lidl and Kaufland brands. It is the largest European retailer[1] and the fourth-largest retailer in the world by revenue.[2] The Schwarz Group's stores sell mostly private label brands, and the family-owned group also operates its own production facilities for baked goods, soft drinks and ice cream.
For other uses, see Schwarz (disambiguation).
Native name
Schwarz-Gruppe
1930
Josef Schwarz
Neckarsulm, Germany
Europe and U.S.
Dieter Schwarz (owner)
€ 154.1 billion (FY 2022/23)
575,000 (FY 2022)
History[edit]
The business was founded in 1930 by Josef Schwarz (1903–1977), father of Dieter Schwarz.[3] It is headquartered in Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Schwarz Group is an international trading company with 500,000 employees and operates over 12,900 stores (in 2021) across 33 countries. It is made up of the two retail divisions, Lidl and Kaufland.
In addition to the retail business, the Schwarz Group also owns brands in the beverage, baked goods, sweets and ice cream sectors. The Schwarz Group has been involved in the collection, sorting and recycling of recyclable materials for many years.[4] With the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, the company supports education, primarily in Dieter Schwarz's hometown of Heilbronn.[5]
The company had a €125.3 billion turnover in the 2020/2021 fiscal year.[6]