Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG is a German international discount retailer chain, founded in 1930 by Josef SCHWARZ, that operates over 11,000 stores across Europe and the United States. Headquartered in Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, the company belongs to the Schwarz Group, which also operates the hypermarket chain Kaufland. In 1930, Josef SCHWARZ became a shareholder in a company based in Heilbronn and named Südfrüchte Großhandlung Lidl & Co. Established since at least 1858 under the name A.Lidl & Cie, the business specialized in the sale of exotic fruits. SCHWARZ renames the company Lidl & Schwarz KG and expands it to all food products, giving birth to the Schwarz-Gruppe empire.