Fred Meijer (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer (December 7, 1919 – November 25, 2011) was the Chairman of the Meijer
hypermarket
chain in Michigan
, United States
.
. In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping. He inherited the company in 1964, after the death of his father, Hendrik Meijer. In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, Doug and Hank, though he remained the Chairman of the Board until his death.
He helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
. An Honors College at Grand Valley State University
is named for him. A Chair in Dutch
culture at Calvin College
is also named for him. As of September 2011, he was worth US$5 billion. He was the 60th richest person in the United States at the time of his death.
Fred Meijer died on November 25, 2011 at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, MI after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home in the early morning hours, reported by the Grand Rapids Press.
Meijer
Meijer, Inc. is a regional American hypermarket chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept in 1962. About half of the company's 196 stores are located in Michigan, with additional locations in...
hypermarket
Hypermarket
In commerce, a hypermarket is a superstore combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including full groceries lines and general merchandise...
chain in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Frederik Meijer was born in Greenville, MichiganGreenville, Michigan
Greenville is a city in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. Portions of the county are associated with the Western region while others are more closely associated with the Central Michigan region. The population was 8,481 at the 2010 census...
. In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping. He inherited the company in 1964, after the death of his father, Hendrik Meijer. In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, Doug and Hank, though he remained the Chairman of the Board until his death.
He helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a botanical garden and outdoor sculpture park located in Grand Rapids Township, Michigan in Kent County. Commonly referred to as Meijer Gardens, it has quickly become one of the most significant sculpture experiences in the Midwest and an emerging...
. An Honors College at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
is named for him. A Chair in Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
culture at Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
is also named for him. As of September 2011, he was worth US$5 billion. He was the 60th richest person in the United States at the time of his death.
Fred Meijer died on November 25, 2011 at the Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, MI after suffering a stroke in his Grand Rapids home in the early morning hours, reported by the Grand Rapids Press.