Aldi - originally one small food shop in Essen

According to a survey by Germany's "Manager Magazine", the Aldi brothers continue to be by far the two richest men in Germany.

Karl and Theo Albrecht are thought to be worth over €16 billion each. Their ever increasing lead is comfortably ahead of anyone else in Germany.

And all this from a single small food shop founded in Essen in 1948.

In 1961 the Aldi chain of supermarket stores split into two sister companies - each belonging to one of the brothers. This occured partly over a dispute whether to sell cigarettes at the checkout. Aldi Nord, owned by Theo, deemed tobacco sales to be acceptable. Aldi Süd, owned by Karl, deemed they were not.

The chains initially covered the respective different regions of Germany. They've since expanded into other European countries as well as America and Australia.

Incidently, Friedrich Karl Flick, who died last week, was 13th in the Germany rich list with a fortune of €6 billion.

• Aldi international website
• Aldi-Gründer sind die reichsten Deutschen

I'm proud to say that, between June 2002 and September 2004, I used to shop at the very first ALDI-shop which is based in Essen-Schonnebeck.

Where there's muck there's brass.

I think Aldi have done a great job. When they came to Britain they ensured that the big UK supermarkets kept their feet on the ground and offered their own value lines.

I think Aldi is a mirror image of German Society. Cheep, Limited Range, Closed on Sundays, predictable and boring, difficult to find Top Quality.

Well I am not too proiud to admit I shop there.

We buy two boxes of bio milk there, nappies and bum wipes. Perfectly okay quality. What I do like are thze odd plants which I often buy to build up my garden. They often sell tools too which are great for DIY or garden work.

I must admit I am starting to shop for veg at smaller "Tante Emma Laden" typüe local shops though.

Jeremy

I agree, what they do they do very well and are hard to beat.

But where do you go for a Waitrose, M&S, or Tesco or a Carrefore.

They dont exsist, very behind the times and dissapointing.