Change at discounter

Old hand steps down: Hofer gets new boss

Horst Leitner has been at the helm of Hofer since December 2018.

(Bild: Wenzel Markus)

Setting the course at food discounter Hofer: the company, which operates from Sattledt, is getting a new boss at the turn of the year. Horst Leitner is retiring. He will be succeeded by two managers: Max Hofmarksrichter and Sean Sacher.

Horst Leitner started working at Hofer in 1992 - initially in sales and purchasing, later he became managing director of an Austrian branch, from 2006 he was responsible for central purchasing for the Hofer Group and then worked for Aldi in the USA from 2011.

When Günther Helm unexpectedly left the food discounter in 2018, Leitner took over the management of the Hofer Group, which also includes Aldi Switzerland, Hungary and Italy, as well as Hofer Slovenia.

Successor currently both at Aldi Süd
Now, after 32 years with the company, the Hofer veteran is retiring from active professional life and handing over his position as CEO at the end of the year. And from January 2025, this will be shared by two managers: Max Hofmarksrichter will become head of Hofer Austria, while Sean Sacher will take over responsibility for the four companies abroad. Both are currently employed by Aldi Süd.

Hofer KG, based in Sattledt, currently employs more than 12,000 people and has around 540 stores in its network.