Dive Brief:
- Hans Riegel, the son of Haribo's founder, has died at the age of 90 on Tuesday of heart failure, the company announced.
- Riegel, who had the same name as his father, took control of Haribo with his brother after World War II, and took it from a company of 30 employees to become the global gummy candy power that it is today.
- Riegel, who remained a co-owner, initially led marketing and sales efforts for the company, focusing on children, and propelled Haribo's famous Golden Bears to become a staple on candy shelves.
Dive Insight:
Riegel and his father, who originally dreamed up candy bears for Haribo, own a place confectionery history that few individuals can touch. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a gummy bear, played with a gummy bear or pulled apart and swapped parts among gummy bears has the Riegels to thank for the experience. This writer counts himself among that crowd.