Frederik Gerhard Hendrik Meijer (December 7, 1919 – November 25, 2011) was the Chairman of the Meijer hypermarket chain in Michigan, United States.[1]
Frederik Meijer was born in Greenville, Michigan [1]. In 1962, he launched Meijer Thrifty Acres with his father and pioneered one-stop shopping.[1] He inherited the company in 1964, after the death of his father, Hendrik Meijer.[1] In 1990, he handed over the company to his sons, Doug and Hank, though he remained the Chairman of the Board until his death.[1]
He helped establish the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.[2] An Honors College at Grand Valley State University is named for him.[3] A Chair in Dutch culture at Calvin College is also named for him.[4] 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][5]
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.[6]