Frederik Gerhard Hendrik "Fred" Meijer (December 7, 1919 – November 25, 2011) was an American billionaire businessman who was the chairman of the Meijerhypermarket chain, headquartered near his former hometown in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[1]
Early life
Meijer was born in Greenville, Michigan,[1] the son of Gezina Mantel and Hendrik Meijer, Dutch immigrants who had married in Greenville in 1912.[2] In 1934, at age 14, he worked with his father Hendrik to found Meijer's North Side Grocery in Greenville.[1]
Career
In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping.[1] He inherited the company after the death of his father in 1964.[1] In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, Doug and Hank, although he remained the chairman of the board until his death.[1]
As of September 2011, he was worth US$5 billion.[1] He was the 60th richest person in the United States at the time of his death.[1][3]
Personal life
In 1946, he married Lena Rader (1919–2022), the daughter of farmers, who had been a cashier in one of his stores.[2] They had three sons, Doug, Hank and Mark Meijer.[4] His grandson Peter was the U.S. representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district from 2021 to 2023.[5] Meijer died on November 25, 2011, at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home.[6]
His wife Lena died at 102 years old on January 15, 2022.[7]
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