Haribo
Known around the world for colourful fruit gummies, Haribo is a family-owned German confectionery company founded by Hans Riegel in Bonn in 1920. The business is closely associated with bear-shaped gummy sweets, especially Goldbears, but its range also includes fruit jellies, foam sweets, sour confectionery, liquorice, marshmallows and the chewy MAOAM brand.
The name HARIBO is formed from the opening letters of HAns RIegel BOnn. What began as a small confectionery workshop developed into an international manufacturer whose sweets are sold in more than 100 countries. Haribo reports that roughly 160 million Goldbears are produced worldwide each day.
| Company | Haribo GmbH & Co. KG |
|---|---|
| Founded | 13 December 1920 |
| Founder | Hans Riegel |
| Place of foundation | Bonn, Germany |
| Headquarters | Grafschaft, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Principal products | Gummy sweets, fruit jellies, foam sweets, sour sweets, liquorice, marshmallows and chewy sweets |
| Notable product families | Goldbears, Starmix, Tangfastics, Supermix, Happy-Cola and MAOAM |
Origin of the Haribo name
Haribo is an acronym rather than a family surname or an invented foreign word. Hans Riegel combined the first two letters of his first name, surname and home city: HAns, RIegel and BOnn. The short, rhythmic result proved unusually memorable and has remained the company name for more than a century.
History
Foundation in Bonn, 1920
Hans Riegel was a trained confectioner. He registered Haribo on 13 December 1920 and began production with modest equipment: a sack of sugar, a marble slab, a stool, a brick stove, a copper pot and a rolling pin. His wife, Gertrud Riegel, became the company's first employee in 1921. She initially delivered sweets to customers by bicycle; the business bought its first delivery car in 1923.
The Dancing Bear and early growth
Haribo's first defining product was the Dancing Bear, introduced in 1922. Inspired by the trained bears once seen at European fairs and markets, it was larger and slimmer than the modern Goldbear. The Dancing Bear is regarded as the direct predecessor of Haribo Goldbears and an early landmark in the history of gummy bears.
Liquorice products joined the range in 1925. By 1933, Haribo employed about 400 people and had established the German advertising line that linked the brand with enjoyment for children. The wording was later expanded to include adults, a small but shrewd recognition that sweet cupboards have never been governed entirely by age.
War, succession and reconstruction
Hans Riegel died in 1945, aged 52. Gertrud Riegel managed the company during the immediate transition. Their sons, Hans Riegel Jr and Paul Riegel, assumed control in 1946 after returning from wartime captivity. Hans Jr concentrated on commercial management and marketing, while Paul oversaw production and technical development.
Haribo had around 30 employees when the brothers took over. By 1950, the workforce had grown to approximately 1,000. The rapid recovery laid the foundations for wider European expansion and for the product that would become the company's international emblem.
Goldbears and international expansion
Haribo launched Goldbears in 1960, refining the earlier bear-shaped sweet into a smaller, more recognisable form. The German name was registered as a trademark in 1967, and the bear received a more compact shape in 1978. Goldbears are now sold in numerous markets, although flavours, colours, recipes and pack sizes can differ by country.
The company also expanded through investment and acquisition. It took a majority stake in the Pontefract confectioner Dunhills in 1972 and completed the acquisition in 1994. Haribo acquired the German chewy-sweets brand MAOAM in 1986. In the United Kingdom, Haribo Starmix appeared in 1995, followed by Haribo Supermix in 1996 and Haribo Tangfastics in 1997.
In 2018, Haribo moved its principal headquarters from Bonn to Grafschaft in Rhineland-Palatinate. The company remains controlled by the Riegel family and operates as a multinational confectionery group with manufacturing plants, sales organisations and market-specific ranges across Europe and beyond.
Haribo products
The term Haribo sweets covers far more than one packet of gummy bears. The catalogue contains soft fruit gummies, jelly pieces, aerated foam sweets, sugar-coated sour sweets, fruit and cola flavours, liquorice, marshmallows and chewy bars. Availability varies because local Haribo businesses adapt products to national tastes and retail demand.
| Product family | Description | Typical pieces or characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Haribo Gold Bears | Bear-shaped fruit gummy sweets descended from the 1922 Dancing Bear | Six fruit flavours are common, including strawberry, raspberry, apple, orange, lemon and pineapple |
| Starmix | A mixed bag combining several familiar shapes and textures | Bears, rings, Fried Eggs, Heart Throbs and Cola Bottles |
| Tangfastics | A sugar-coated assortment designed around fizzy and sour flavours | Fizzy Cola Bottles, sour cherries, dummies and crocodiles |
| Supermix | A soft mixture of fruit-gum and foam-based sweets | Jelly Man, Milk Bottle, Sheep and Ice Cream pieces |
| Happy-Cola | Cola-flavoured gummy bottles | Usually brown-and-clear bottle shapes with a soft chew |
| MAOAM | A separate Haribo-owned family of chewy sweets | Bars, Bloxx, Stripes, Joystixx and mixed bags, depending on the market |
| Liquorice and marshmallow ranges | Products outside the core fruit-gummy category | Liquorice wheels, mixed liquorice, Pontefract Cakes and Chamallows |
Goldbears
Goldbears are the best-known Haribo gummy sweets and the successor to the Dancing Bear. Their springy texture is normally produced with gelatine, while fruit and plant concentrates help create the familiar colours. The precise recipe differs between markets, so a Goldbear sold in Britain is not necessarily identical to one sold in Germany, the United States or another country.
Starmix, Tangfastics and Supermix
Three mixed assortments are particularly prominent in the UK. Starmix combines gummy and foam pieces, including rings, bears, eggs, hearts and cola bottles. Tangfastics centres on sour and fizzy sweets with an acid-sugar coating. Supermix favours softer shapes such as milk bottles, sheep and ice creams. The names provide a useful shorthand: mixed favourites, a sharper tang, or a softer mixture.
Regional and seasonal ranges
Haribo product lists differ considerably between countries. Scandinavian ranges place greater emphasis on liquorice; British shelves commonly feature Starmix, Tangfastics, Supermix and Pontefract Cakes; and other markets may give more space to Goldbears, Tropifrutti, Happy Cherries, Happy Peaches, Worms, Pico-Balla, Rotella or Mega Roulette. Strawberry sweets, peach gummies, cherry pieces, rings, milk bottles, rhubarb-and-custard flavours and foam sweets may appear as individual lines or within mixed bags.
Seasonal editions are produced for Christmas, Easter and Halloween. These may use themed shapes, colours, gift boxes, advent calendars, mini bags or party packs. A seasonal name does not necessarily indicate a different base recipe, and discontinued or limited products can disappear from one market while remaining available elsewhere.
Ingredients and manufacture
Typical Haribo gummy sweets contain glucose syrup, sugar, gelatine and dextrose, together with acids, flavourings, fruit and plant concentrates and glazing agents. Sour sweets may carry a coating of sugar and food acids, while foam sweets use an aerated mixture to create a softer bite. Liquorice and marshmallow products require different recipes. Ingredients must therefore be checked product by product rather than inferred from the brand name.
In conventional gummy production, the warm confectionery mixture is deposited into shaped impressions made in trays of food-grade starch. The pieces are allowed to set and lose moisture before being removed, cleaned and finished with a coating that prevents sticking or adds shine. Other Haribo products may be extruded, aerated, layered or sugar-coated. The familiar bear, bottle, ring and fruit shapes are created by moulds rather than carved individually, which is fortunate for both price and the patience of factory staff.
Dietary suitability
Haribo recipes vary by product, production site and destination country. Statements such as “all Haribo is halal”, “all Haribo is gluten-free” or “Haribo is vegan” are therefore too broad. The packaging and local product information are the correct sources for ingredients, allergen warnings and certification.
- Gelatine: Many classic gummy and foam products use animal gelatine. In the standard UK range, this is commonly pork gelatine.
- Halal products: Some clearly labelled and certified Haribo ranges use beef gelatine. Certification and availability differ between countries.
- Vegetarian and vegan products: Selected products are made without animal gelatine, but this does not apply to the entire range. Vegan suitability also depends on every ingredient and processing statement, not gelatine alone.
- Gluten: Haribo states that most sweets made at its UK factories do not contain gluten. Pontefract Cakes contain wheat, and imported products may carry different declarations or trace warnings.
- Allergens and recipe changes: Formulations can change. Anyone with an allergy, intolerance or religious dietary requirement should read the current packet before eating the product.
Haribo in the United Kingdom
Haribo's British presence developed from its relationship with Dunhills, a confectionery maker in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. The company now has UK manufacturing sites in Pontefract and Castleford. Pontefract is historically associated with liquorice cultivation and Pontefract Cakes, while the wider British range includes more than 100 varieties across fruit gummies, foam sweets, sour sweets and liquorice.
Starmix and Tangfastics are among Haribo's leading UK assortments, with Supermix offering a softer alternative. British retail formats include standard bags, sharing bags, multipacks, mini bags, boxes and large tubs. Bulk Haribo sweets and wholesale packs are also supplied for cinemas, sweet shops, events and hospitality, although product assortment and pack weight vary by retailer.
International presence
Haribo has grown from a Bonn workshop into a global confectionery business. Its operations span production, distribution and sales organisations in multiple countries, and its products reach more than 100 national markets. The company states that it employs about 8,500 people across its international organisation.
Local adaptation is central to that expansion. Liquorice products such as Matador Mix and Super Piratos have a strong presence in Nordic markets. Starmix and Tangfastics are closely associated with the UK, while Goldbears provide a more consistent international reference point. Even then, fruit flavours, permitted colourings, gelatine sources, pack designs and portion sizes may change from one country to another.
Advertising and brand identity
Haribo's branding is built around bold red and yellow packaging, bear imagery and a long-running slogan and jingle addressed to children and adults. The company used television advertising in Germany from the early 1960s and subsequently adapted the campaign for numerous languages. The Goldbear functions as both a sweet and a brand mascot, giving Haribo a visual identity that can be recognised without a lengthy explanation — useful when the product itself is barely two centimetres tall.
The brand's cultural reach is also tied to the gummy bear as a category. Haribo did not invent every form of jelly sweet, but its Dancing Bear and Goldbears helped establish the bear shape as one of the most recognisable designs in confectionery.
Timeline
- 1920: Hans Riegel founds Haribo in Bonn.
- 1921: Gertrud Riegel becomes the first employee.
- 1922: The Dancing Bear fruit gummy is introduced.
- 1925: Haribo begins producing liquorice confectionery.
- 1933: The company employs about 400 people and establishes its best-known German slogan.
- 1946: Hans Riegel Jr and Paul Riegel take over the business.
- 1960: Goldbears are launched.
- 1972: Haribo acquires a majority stake in Dunhills of Pontefract.
- 1986: Haribo acquires MAOAM.
- 1994: Dunhills becomes wholly owned by Haribo.
- 1995–1997: Starmix, Supermix and Tangfastics are launched in the UK.
- 2018: The principal headquarters moves from Bonn to Grafschaft.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented Haribo sweets?
Hans Riegel founded the company and developed its early confectionery range. His 1922 Dancing Bear was the predecessor of the modern Goldbear.
What was the first Haribo product?
The earliest product most closely identified with the brand was the Dancing Bear fruit gummy, launched in 1922. Haribo added liquorice products in 1925.
Where are Haribo sweets made?
Haribo manufactures sweets at plants in several countries. UK production takes place in Pontefract and Castleford, while other factories serve Germany, continental Europe, the United States and additional markets. The country of manufacture is shown on the packet.
Are Haribo sweets halal?
Some Haribo products are halal-certified and use beef gelatine, but many standard products are not halal. Consumers should look for certification on the specific packet sold in their country.
Are Haribo sweets vegan or vegetarian?
Many well-known Haribo gummies contain gelatine and are neither vegan nor vegetarian. Selected gelatine-free lines may be suitable, subject to the complete ingredients list and the dietary statement on the packaging.
Are Haribo sweets gluten-free?
Many UK-made products do not contain gluten, but this is not a universal rule. Pontefract Cakes contain wheat, and imported products can have different ingredients or warnings.
Legacy
Haribo's development reflects the industrial history of modern sweets: a small local recipe became a standardised product, the product became a mascot, and the mascot became an international brand. Its enduring achievement is not simply the invention of a bear-shaped gummy, but the creation of a broad confectionery range that can change by market while retaining a clear identity. Few confectionery names have travelled so far from such modest beginnings as Haribo.