About Josef Schwarz

Joseph Schwarz was one of the most important entrepreneurs in northern Baden-Württemberg last century.

His decision to become a partner in a wholesale business for tropical fruit in 1930 began the long history of the Schwarz Group. The organisation has since grown to become one of the leading food retail companies in Germany, owning the brands Lidl and Kaufland.

Josef Schwarz turned the fruit selling business into a grocery wholesaler. The growth of the company was interrupted by the Second World War, and it took great effort to rebuild the business in the years that followed. It was not until 1954 that Josef Schwarz could move back into his own property in Heilbronn. In the same year, he joined retail chain A&O. In 1960 he opened the first C+C warehouse in Northern Württemberg, expanding the premises at the same time.

Josef Schwarz died in March 1977 at the age of 74. He was an active director of the company until his death. His ideas and vision were a vital contribution to the successful development of the company, which currently employs more than 300,000 people.