Götz Werner, founder of German cosmetics and healthcare retailer dm, has died at the age of 78, the company announced on Tuesday.
His son, Christoph Werner, who is chief executive of the high street chain, said his father passed away peacefully.
Born in Heidelberg in February 1944, Götz Werner went on to train as a chemist before founding the dm chain, which has stores in 14 countries across Europe.
He was known as an early campaigner for a universal basic income, based on the idea that citizens should get regular payouts from the state regardless of their income.
More than 66,000 people work for dm, whose turnover amounts to €12.3 billion ($14 billion dollars).
Since the early 1990s, and increasingly after his departure from the company day-to-day management in 2008, Werner devoted his time to promoting the idea of universal basic income.
“He was always aware that he would not live to see the completion of this idea,’’ the company statement said.
He nevertheless committed himself to the cause “with great energy because he recognised it as right and meaningful.’’
Werner also gained a foothold in the academic world.
In May 2005, the University of Karlsruhe appointed him as head of its Institute for Entrepreneurship and awarded him the title of professor.
