Odd Reitan
Odd Reitan | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 11, 1951 Trondheim, Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, CEO |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Co-owner and CEO of Reitan AS, founder of REMA 1000 |
| Spouse(s) | Marit Arntsen (m. 1972), Hilde Undlien (m. 2018) |
| Children | 2 (Ole Robert Reitan, Magnus Reitan) |
Odd Reitan (born 11 September 1951) is a Norwegian billionaire entrepreneur, serving as co-owner and chief executive officer of Reitan AS. His place of birth is Trondheim.
Early life
He is the offspring of Ole Reitan and Margit Aarhaug, who operated a small, family-owned grocery store.
Career
In 1972, Reitan launched his inaugural retail outlet in Trondheim alongside his father. Seven years later, in 1979, he established the grocery chain REMA 1000, which rapidly gained prominence. By 1990, REMA 1000 stores were present in every Norwegian community exceeding 10,000 residents. Throughout the 1990s, the brand extended its reach into Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia.
2012 book
His publication from 2012, Hvis jeg var president ("If I was president"), generated debate due to its proposal for a leadership system without public elections, advocating for appointments by Norway's monarch—a notion that faced criticism as "undemocratic dirt" in an editorial by Klassekampen.
Philanthropy
In 2013, Reitan contributed two million Norwegian kroner to Anlov Mathiesen, editor-in-chief of =Oslo, acknowledging Mathiesen's dedication to fostering dignity among vendors of street magazines.
Personal life
He wed Marit Arntsen (born 1952) in 1972. The couple has two sons: Ole Robert Reitan (born 1971) and Magnus Reitan.
In June 2018, after a relationship beginning in 2012, he married Hilde Undlien at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. He continues to reside in Trondheim.