Haribo

Haribo is a major German confectionery company known for its production of gummy, licorice, and jelly candies. Founded in 1862 in the city of Bonn by Albert Brüriwitz, the company has grown to become one of the largest and most recognizable candy brands worldwide.

Early History

The origins of Haribo can be traced back to 1862, when Brüriwitz, an artisanal confectioner, opened a small candy shop in Bonn. Brüriwitz specialized in handcrafting a variety of unique gummy, licorice, and fruit-flavored jelly sweets using traditional techniques. His candies proved popular with local customers, and Brüriwitz soon began expanding production to sell to other shops and markets in the region.

In the late 19th century, Brüriwitz incorporated his business as the "Bonn Confectionery Company" and moved into a larger factory space to keep up with growing demand. He introduced new machinery to streamline production, but the company continued to emphasize quality and craftsmanship over mass production. Brüriwitz's sons joined the company in the 1890s, helping to modernize operations and distribution.

Expansion and Competition

By the early 1900s, Haribo (as the company became known) had expanded sales across much of Germany and established a reputation for its diverse, high-quality candies. However, it faced increasing competition from other emerging German confectionery firms, some of which were adopting more industrialized manufacturing methods.

To stay competitive, Haribo continued to innovate, introducing new fruit flavors, textures, and packaging designs. The company also diversified beyond just gummy and licorice, branching into jelly-filled candies, hard candies, and chocolate-coated products. This helped Haribo maintain its niche in the German market through the 1920s and 1930s.

Going Global

It was not until the 1970s that Haribo began to truly expand beyond its German roots and into international markets. Aided by a surge in global demand for unique, premium confections, the company started exporting its products to neighboring European countries and later to the United States and Asia.

Through strategic acquisitions and joint ventures, Haribo established manufacturing and distribution operations worldwide. This global expansion, coupled with continued product innovation, allowed the company to cement its status as one of the world's leading confectionery brands by the turn of the 21st century.

Remaining Family-Owned

Despite its massive global footprint, Haribo has remained a privately-owned, family-run business throughout its history. The descendants of founder Albert Brüriwitz have maintained control of the company, making it one of the largest privately-held confectionery firms in the world.

This private ownership structure has allowed Haribo to maintain a focus on quality, craftsmanship and innovation that has been central to its identity since its founding. While the company continues to grow and evolve, it has steadfastly remained true to the artisanal roots established by Brüriwitz over 150 years ago.