Portrait of Torsten Toeller

Rank #2473

Torsten Toeller

Net worth $1.6B

Pet food · Germany

Born
Apr 06, 1966
Age
60
Source
Pet food
Residence
Krefeld
Citizenship
Germany
Marital status
Married
Children
0
Education

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Torsten Toeller encountered pet supply superstores during a visit to the U.S. in the late 1980s and decided the concept deserved a try in his native Germany.
  • When he opened his first Fressnapf store in 1990, in Erkelenz, customers were initially unimpressed with his selection and prices.
  • Toeller doubled down by selling his car to raise cash, invested in more inventory and went for broke with aggressive discounts.
  • The gamble paid off, and in 1992 Fressnapf Tiernahrungs GmbH began opening franchise stores, paving the way for rapid growth.
  • Today, with over 20,000 people working in approximately 2,600 stores in 15 countries, it is Europe's largest pet-focused chain.
  • Toeller has invested in an office building project called Mercator One in Duisburg, close to the company's headquarters in Krefeld.
  • He is a car fanatic and former sailor.