HARIBO

Haribo — Original German Fruit Gums & Liquorice

Haribo is the brand that made the gummy bear a global icon. At GermanFoods.shop we stock over 200 Haribo products — from the classic Goldbären and Phantasia to Tropifrutti, Happy Cola, Color-Rado, and the full Maoam chew range. You get the original German recipes with real fruit juice, the textures and flavours you remember, and the full-size bags that German supermarkets carry. Everything ships directly from our warehouse in Erfurt so it arrives fresh, sealed, and in its original German packaging. Looking for a kids' birthday box or a bulk order? We offer single bags as well as larger multi-pack and trade boxes.

From a Kitchen in Bonn to a Global Brand

Hans Riegel Sr., born 1893 in Friesdorf near Bonn, trained as a confectioner and founded Haribo on 13 December 1920. The name is a portmanteau of HAns RIegel BOnn. His start-up equipment was modest — a copper pot, a marble slab, a stove, a stool, and a rolling pin. His wife Gertrud became his first employee, delivering orders by bicycle.

The Dancing Bear and the Birth of the Goldbear

In 1922, Riegel invented the Tanzbär (Dancing Bear) — a fruit-gum figure inspired by the trained bears at German street fairs. Larger and slimmer than today's bears, it was the world's first gummy bear. In 1925, Haribo added liquorice products, including the still-popular Liquorice Wheels. By the 1930s, the company had 400 employees. In 1960, the modern Goldbear was introduced in a more compact shape, and in 1967, the German Patent Office officially registered Goldbären as a trademark.

The Slogan That Stuck

The line "Haribo macht Kinder froh" (Haribo makes children happy) debuted around 1930. In the mid-1960s, it was extended to "Haribo macht Kinder froh — und Erwachsene ebenso" (and grown-ups too). English-speaking markets know it as "Kids and grown-ups love it so — the happy world of Haribo." It is one of the most recognised advertising slogans in German-speaking countries.

Product Range and Dietary Options

Today, Haribo's German range includes well over 100 product lines across fruit gums, liquorice, marshmallows (Chamallows), and foam sweets. The company offers a growing vegetarian range made with plant-based gelling agents instead of gelatine, and a halal-certified range produced with beef gelatine for markets that require it. Haribo remains a family-run company under the HARIBO GmbH & Co. KG umbrella and is one of the largest confectionery producers in Europe.

FAQ

Are Haribo products at GermanFoods.shop the German version or the US version?

All our Haribo products are the original German versions — sourced in Germany, with German-language packaging and the European formulations that use real fruit juice concentrates.

Does Haribo make vegetarian gummy bears?

Yes. Haribo produces a vegetarian range that replaces gelatine with plant-based alternatives. Look for the "vegetarisch" label on the packaging. We carry several vegetarian Haribo items in our shop.

What does the name Haribo stand for?

Haribo is derived from the founder's name and city: HAns RIegel, BOnn. The company was founded on 13 December 1920.

What is the difference between the Tanzbär and the Goldbear?

The Tanzbär (Dancing Bear) was invented in 1922 and was taller and slimmer. The modern Goldbear, with its compact shape and brighter colours, was introduced in 1960 and trademarked in 1967.