Fred Meijer : Stories Of His Life

In this book Bill Smith and Larry ten Harmsel offer an engaging glimpse into the life of Fred Meijer (b. 1919), a prominent retailer whose Grand Rapids-based company has grown from one local store in Greenville, Michigan, to a chain of nearly 200 stores in five Midwestern states. Smith and ten Harmsel have gathered reminiscences from nearly a hundred people who have known and interacted with Fred during the past eighty years – from U.S. Presidents and ambassadors to clerks at the grocery checkout – and the result is a unique biography of an innovative and energetic businessman whose economic, philanthropic, and philosophical influence has been felt across a broad segment of the Midwest.

Replete with photos and captivating anecdotes, Fred Meijer: Stories of His Life is an inspiring read not only for Meijer buffs but also for students of business and management in modern America.