Why do bodybuilders eat HARIBO?

Some bodybuilders eat gummy sweets such as HARIBO as a convenient source of carbohydrates around training. HARIBO products are confectionery, not sports supplements, and their suitability depends on an individual’s nutrition plan.

Is HARIBO owned by Nestlé?

No. HARIBO is ultimately owned by HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG, a family-owned holding company with equal ownership by the Paul Riegel Family Holding and Hans Riegel Holding.

Who owns HARIBO gummy bears and Goldbears?

HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG ultimately owns the HARIBO brand, including Goldbears and HARIBO gummy products, according to Made O’Meter’s verified ownership data. The chain is HARIBO, HARIBO GmbH & Co. KG, then HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG.

Is HARIBO a German company?

Yes. Hans Riegel founded HARIBO in Bonn, Germany, in 1920, and the name is an abbreviation of Hans Riegel Bonn. HARIBO’s international headquarters are now in Grafschaft, Germany, while the original Bonn factory remains operational.

Is HARIBO Danish or Japanese?

No. HARIBO originated in Germany and was founded by Hans Riegel in Bonn in 1920. HARIBO operates internationally, so products sold in Denmark, Japan and other countries can be made for local markets.

Are HARIBO gummy bears halal?

Not all HARIBO gummy bears have the same halal status. The answer depends on the product’s gelatin, other ingredients, certification and country of sale, so consumers should check the exact package or local HARIBO information.

Is the Fortnite HARIBO Sprites product real?

A HARIBO product called Fortnite Sprites cannot be confirmed from the verified company information used here. HARIBO’s documented product information identifies Goldbears, ZING products, liquorice and other confectionery, but does not establish an official Fortnite Sprites product.

Who owns HARIBO?

HARIBO

Ultimate ownerGermanyHARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG

Brand origin: Germany
Main production: Several countries, incl. Germany

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Ownership chain

BrandHARIBOGermany
HARIBO GmbH & Co. KG
Ultimate ownerHARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KGGermany

About HARIBO

What is HARIBO?

HARIBO is a German confectionery brand that makes fruit-gum sweets, liquorice and other gummy products. Hans Riegel founded HARIBO in Bonn, Germany, on December 13, 1920. The name HARIBO comes from Hans Riegel Bonn, the founder’s name and the city where the business began. HARIBO is a family business in its third generation. The company describes HARIBO as a global market leader in the fruit-gum and liquorice segments. HARIBO sells products in almost 200 countries, according to the company’s current history information. HARIBO operates 15 production sites in ten countries and employs about 8,500 people, according to the same source. HARIBO’s official website is haribo.com.

Who owns HARIBO?

HARIBO is ultimately owned by HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG, according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The ownership chain is HARIBO, then HARIBO GmbH & Co. KG, then HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG. HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG is family-owned. The holding company has equal ownership by the Paul Riegel Family Holding and the Hans Riegel Holding. HARIBO is not owned by Nestlé. HARIBO operates as a separate family-owned confectionery group. The holding structure places HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG above HARIBO GmbH & Co. KG. The current structure followed the transfer of the business into a holding company owned by the two family branches. The Paul Riegel family holding represents descendants of Paul Riegel, while the Hans Riegel side is represented through Hans Riegel holding structures.

Where does HARIBO come from?

HARIBO originated in Bonn, Germany, where Hans Riegel founded the business on December 13, 1920. Hans Riegel was born in 1893 in Friesdorf near Bonn and trained as a confectioner before founding HARIBO. HARIBO’s first production began in a small courtyard laundry in Bonn. Hans Riegel used a sack of sugar, a marble slab, a stool, a stove, a copper pot and a rolling pin. Gertrud Riegel became HARIBO’s first employee in 1921. HARIBO produced its first bear-shaped fruit-gum sweet in 1922. The company began producing liquorice products in 1925. HARIBO completed its Bonn plant in 1933. After Hans Riegel died in 1945, his sons Hans Riegel Jr. and Paul Riegel took over the company in 1946. HARIBO expanded outside Germany during the second half of the twentieth century. HARIBO acquired Bonera Industrie en Handelsmaatschappij NV in Breda in 1961 and operated it as Haribo Nederland BV. HARIBO acquired shares in the French confectionery company Lorette in Marseille in 1967 and renamed it Haribo-France SA. HARIBO acquired shares in the Solingen confectionery company Dr. Hillers in 1968 and completed the takeover in 1979. HARIBO acquired Italian distributor SIDAS in 1990, establishing its own Italian operation. HARIBO acquired Belgian marshmallow producer Dulcia in 1996. HARIBO’s first advertisements were broadcast on German television in 1962. The German Patent Office registered Goldbären, or Golden Bears, as a HARIBO trademark in 1967. HARIBO opened a United States sales office in Baltimore in 1982. HARIBO of America later moved its headquarters to Rosemont, Illinois, in 2015. HARIBO relocated its German and international headquarters from Bonn to Grafschaft in Rhineland-Palatinate on May 2, 2018. Bonn remained a HARIBO production location. HARIBO began production at its first North American manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, in 2023. The facility produces Goldbears and is HARIBO’s 16th factory, according to the company.

What products does HARIBO make?

HARIBO makes fruit gummies, gummy bears, liquorice products, marshmallow products and other sugar confectionery. The company makes more than 1,200 product types worldwide, according to its history information. Goldbears are HARIBO’s best-known product. The German name Goldbären means Golden Bears. The German Patent Office registered Goldbären as a HARIBO trademark in 1967. HARIBO Goldbears have five colors and flavors in the company’s United States range. Green Goldbears are strawberry, yellow Goldbears are lemon, orange Goldbears are orange, red Goldbears are raspberry and translucent Goldbears are pineapple. HARIBO’s product range varies by country. The company produces more than 25 varieties of gummy treats for the United States and more than 1,200 types globally. Other HARIBO products include liquorice sweets and marshmallow products. HARIBO began making liquorice in 1925 and later expanded its product portfolio through acquisitions, including the Belgian marshmallow producer Dulcia in 1996.

Why is German HARIBO so good?

German HARIBO is often described by consumers as different because product recipes, flavor ranges and availability can vary between countries. HARIBO was founded in Bonn, Germany, and its original market is Germany. HARIBO’s German history includes the first bear-shaped fruit-gum sweet in 1922, the start of liquorice production in 1925 and the Goldbären trademark registration in 1967. These products helped establish HARIBO’s long-standing position in the German fruit-gum and liquorice markets. HARIBO stated that it held a 60 percent share of Germany’s fruit-gummy segment in 2021. An Encyclopedia.com company profile reported that HARIBO Gold Bears held a 20 percent share of all fruit-gum sales in Germany. The taste of a HARIBO product can differ by market because local products and ingredient specifications are not always identical. The product packaging and local HARIBO consumer information are the appropriate sources for the ingredients and recipe of a particular bag.

Is HARIBO gluten free, vegan or made from pig?

HARIBO products should not be treated as universally gluten free or vegan, and some HARIBO products use gelatin. HARIBO states that some products contain wheat and that products may contain traces of gluten. HARIBO says that ingredients are listed on each product’s packaging and that allergens subject to labeling rules appear in bold. Consumers with celiac disease, wheat allergy or gluten sensitivity should check the specific package before eating a product. HARIBO products are not all vegan because some products contain gelatin. The source of gelatin and the suitability of a product depend on the product and market. A product labeled vegetarian may use a different formulation from products containing animal-derived gelatin. HARIBO USA identifies ZING Sour Streamers and ZING Sour S’ghetti as vegetarian options. Vegetarian labeling does not by itself establish that every HARIBO product is vegan or that every product is suitable for a particular religious diet. HARIBO says its products do not contain peanuts or tree nuts as ingredients, while also operating an allergen program intended to prevent cross-contamination. Product packaging remains the controlling source for a specific product.

Is HARIBO halal or kosher?

Whether HARIBO is halal or kosher depends on the specific product, ingredients, certification and country of sale. HARIBO gummies cannot be classified as universally halal or kosher solely because they carry the HARIBO name. Gelatin is a key consideration for HARIBO gummy bears and other gummy products. Gelatin can be made from different animal sources, and the relevant formulation can vary by market. Consumers seeking halal or kosher products should check the package for a recognized certification or contact the local HARIBO consumer service. The question “is HARIBO halal in the USA” also requires a product-specific answer. HARIBO products sold in the United States can have different ingredients and labels from products sold in Germany, Turkey or other countries. The same applies to the question “is HARIBO made in Turkey halal.” Manufacturing location alone does not establish halal status. Consumers should verify the certification and ingredient statement for the exact product.

Where is HARIBO made?

HARIBO makes products at manufacturing sites in several countries. The company’s current history information lists 15 production sites in ten countries and about 8,500 employees. HARIBO’s original factory in Bonn remains operational, although the group’s headquarters moved to Grafschaft in 2018. HARIBO of America began production at the company’s first North American factory in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, in 2023. The Pleasant Prairie factory focuses on Goldbears and supports production of more than 100 million Goldbears per day, according to HARIBO’s announcement about the facility. HARIBO opened its United States sales office in Baltimore in 1982 and later established its United States headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois. Sales offices and factories are separate parts of HARIBO’s international operations.

How large is HARIBO?

HARIBO’s products are sold in almost 200 countries, and HARIBO operates 15 production sites in ten countries with about 8,500 employees, according to the company’s current history information. HARIBO reported more than 1,200 product types globally and more than 25 varieties for the United States. The company’s first North American factory in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, produces Goldbears and is the group’s 16th factory, according to HARIBO’s 2023 announcement. HARIBO’s annual sales were estimated at €2 billion in 2013. At that time, HARIBO employed more than 6,000 people across 15 production sites in ten European countries and sold products in 110 countries. HARIBO stated that it held 60 percent of Germany’s fruit-gummy segment in 2021. Gold Bears were reported to hold 20 percent of all fruit-gum sales in Germany in an Encyclopedia.com company profile.

Is HARIBO being boycotted?

There is no single worldwide answer to whether HARIBO is being boycotted. Boycotts can be organized in particular countries or markets for reasons that do not apply to every HARIBO product or every consumer. HARIBO is a family-owned group whose ultimate owner is HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG. HARIBO is not owned by Nestlé. A consumer considering a boycott should identify the specific campaign, country, date and allegation rather than treating every online claim as a statement about HARIBO worldwide. Product ingredients and manufacturing locations also vary by market.

Frequently asked questions about HARIBO

Why do bodybuilders eat HARIBO?: Some bodybuilders eat gummy sweets such as HARIBO as a convenient source of carbohydrates around training. HARIBO products are confectionery, not sports supplements, and their suitability depends on an individual’s nutrition plan.
Is HARIBO owned by Nestlé?: No. HARIBO is ultimately owned by HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG, a family-owned holding company with equal ownership by the Paul Riegel Family Holding and Hans Riegel Holding.
Who owns HARIBO gummy bears and Goldbears?: HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG ultimately owns the HARIBO brand, including Goldbears and HARIBO gummy products, according to Made O’Meter’s verified ownership data. The chain is HARIBO, HARIBO GmbH & Co. KG, then HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG.
Is HARIBO a German company?: Yes. Hans Riegel founded HARIBO in Bonn, Germany, in 1920, and the name is an abbreviation of Hans Riegel Bonn. HARIBO’s international headquarters are now in Grafschaft, Germany, while the original Bonn factory remains operational.
Is HARIBO Danish or Japanese?: No. HARIBO originated in Germany and was founded by Hans Riegel in Bonn in 1920. HARIBO operates internationally, so products sold in Denmark, Japan and other countries can be made for local markets.
Are HARIBO gummy bears halal?: Not all HARIBO gummy bears have the same halal status. The answer depends on the product’s gelatin, other ingredients, certification and country of sale, so consumers should check the exact package or local HARIBO information.
Are HARIBO products gluten free?: HARIBO does not describe all products as gluten free. HARIBO states that some products contain wheat and that products may contain traces of gluten, so consumers should check the ingredients and allergen statement on the package.
Is the Fortnite HARIBO Sprites product real?: A HARIBO product called Fortnite Sprites cannot be confirmed from the verified company information used here. HARIBO’s documented product information identifies Goldbears, ZING products, liquorice and other confectionery, but does not establish an official Fortnite Sprites product.