Who owns Hero?
Hero
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- Brand origin
- Switzerland
- Main production
- Several countries, incl. Spain
Hero is a Swiss food brand founded in 1886 in Lenzburg, Switzerland, and focused on branded nutritional food products. Hero is ultimately owned by Dr. Arend Oetker Holding GmbH & Co. KG in Germany through Hero AG and Schwartau International GmbH.
hero-group.chOwnership chain
- BrandHeroSwitzerland
- Hero AG
- Schwartau International GmbH
- Ultimate ownerDr. Arend Oetker Holding GmbH & Co. KGGermany
About Hero
What is Hero?
Hero is a food brand and the name of a multinational food group headquartered in Lenzburg, Switzerland. Hero focuses on branded nutritional food products across baby and toddler food, natural spreads, and healthy snacks. The group also operates in gluten-free foods and specialty products. Hero AG is the group's legal parent entity.
Who owns Hero?
Hero is ultimately owned by Dr. Arend Oetker Holding GmbH & Co. KG, according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The ownership chain is Hero, Hero AG, Schwartau International GmbH, and Dr. Arend Oetker Holding GmbH & Co. KG. Schwartau International GmbH holds 99.0% of Hero AG's share capital, while the Dr. Arend Oetker family is the ultimate shareholder of Schwartau International GmbH. The ultimate owner is family-owned.
Where does Hero come from?
Hero was founded in 1886 in Lenzburg, Switzerland, where the group's headquarters remain today. Dr. Arend Oetker acquired his first Hero shares in 1994. In 1995, Schwartau International GmbH, owned by Dr. Arend Oetker, acquired a majority stake in Hero. This acquisition led to the formation of the Hero Group with Schwartauer Werke.
What products does Hero make?
Hero's product portfolio includes baby and toddler food, milk products, natural spreads, and healthy snacks. The wider group operates brands including Hero, Corny, Beech-Nut, Schwartau, Semper, Organix, Deliciously Ella, Baby Gourmet, Vitrac, Queensberry, and Casa de Mateus. Hero products and related group brands are sold in international and local markets.
Frequently asked questions about Hero
Is Hero a Swiss brand?
- Yes. Hero was founded in Lenzburg, Switzerland, in 1886, and Hero's headquarters remain in Lenzburg. The brand is ultimately owned by a German family-owned holding company.
Who is behind the Hero brand?
- Dr. Arend Oetker Holding GmbH & Co. KG is the ultimate owner of Hero. Hero AG is the legal parent entity, and Schwartau International GmbH is the intermediate owner in the documented ownership chain.
What kind of food does Hero sell?
- Hero sells food products in categories including baby and toddler food, natural spreads, and healthy snacks. The wider group also operates in gluten-free foods and specialty products.
Is Hero connected to Schwartau?
- Yes. Schwartau International GmbH is part of Hero's ownership chain and holds 99.0% of Hero AG's share capital. Schwartau is also one of the brands operated by the wider Hero Group.
When did the Oetker family acquire Hero?
- Dr. Arend Oetker acquired his first Hero shares in 1994, and Schwartau International GmbH acquired a majority stake in Hero in 1995.
Sources: aargauerzeitung.ch, hero-group.ch: HG Annual Report 2023 Online March 2024.pdf, hero-group.ch: hero under oetker stewardship 1973 1999, hero-group.ch: hero under oetker stewardship 1973 1999, abendblatt.de, hero-group.ch: hero annual report 2017 webversion.pdf, hero-group.ch: en, hero-group.ch: history
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Sources: hero-group.ch, en.wikipedia.org: Schwartauer Werke, en.wikipedia.org: Arend Oetker
Ownership data is compiled from public sources and verified where possible. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction below.
Products from Hero
41- Hero Solo 8 CerealesFood – Baby Cereal
- RöstiFood – Prepared Potato Dish
- Hero Fruit Spread & PreservationFood – Jams, Preserves, and Baby Food
- Hero Delicia Creamy Peanut ButterFood – Snack / Spread
- Hero Light Ciliegie NereFood – Fruit Spread
- Hero Light Blueberry SpreadFood – Fruit Spread
- Hero jam or fruit preserveFood – Fruit Preserve
- Hero Cassis no bubblesBeverage – Soft drink (Non-carbonated)
- Hero Aardbeien Zero JamFood – Fruit Spread/Jam
- Hero Fruit SpreadFood – Fruit Jam/Spread
- Hero Fruit Spreads and SnacksFood – Fruit Spreads, Jams, and Healthy Snacks
- Hero Aardbeien Zero strawberry jamFood – Fruit Spread/Jam
- Hero ¡Mi Fruta! Banana, Strawberry and AppleFood – Baby food fruit pouch
- Hero Strawberry JamFood – Fruit spread/Confectionery
- Hero Perzik Passievrucht ZeroFood – Fruit spread
- Hero Temporada Fresas de Huelva Strawberry JamFood – Fruit Conserve / Jam
- Hero Cassis The Original soft drinkBeverage – Carbonated Soft Drink (Fruit-flavored)
- Hero Raspberry JamFood – Fruit Jam/Confectionery
- Hero Jam PeachFood – Fruit Jam
- Hero Temporada Fig JamFood – Fruit Jam/Conserve
- Hero Cassis soft drinkBeverage – Fruit-flavored Soft Drink
- Hero Fine Raspberry JamFood – Fruit Jam/Confectionery
- Hero Fruit Spreads and Baby FoodFood – Jams, Preserves, and Baby Food
- Hero snack foodFood – Snack (Cereal bars, fruit and nut bars)
and 17 more products