You’ve seen the gold bags. You’ve definitely heard the jingle. But honestly, most people just grab a bag of Goldbears at the checkout line without ever wondering where those little chewy guys actually started. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a half-empty bag of Starmix and asking where is Haribo from, the answer is a lot more specific than just "Europe."
It’s German. Strictly German. Specifically, it was born in a cramped backyard laundry room in a district of Bonn called Kessenich.
The year was 1920. A guy named Hans Riegel—who had just finished his training as a confectioner—decided he was done working for other people. He registered his new company on December 13th. His "startup capital" wasn't a venture round; it was a sack of sugar, a marble slab, a stool, a brick stove, a copper pot, and a rolling pin. That’s it. His wife, Gertrud, was the first and only employee for a while, delivering the candy on her bicycle.
What Does the Name Even Mean?
The name "Haribo" sounds kinda exotic or Japanese to some people, but it’s actually a very literal German acronym.
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- HA stands for Hans.
- RI stands for Riegel.
- BO stands for Bonn.
Basically, he just smashed his name and his city together. It’s the ultimate "does what it says on the tin" branding. By 1922, Hans was looking for a way to stand out from the hard candies everyone else was making. He took some fruit-flavored gelatin and molded it into the shape of a bear. But these weren't the cute, chubby Goldbears we know today.
They were called Tanzbär (Dancing Bears). They were taller, slimmer, and inspired by the real dancing bears that used to perform at street fairs and festivals in Germany during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Looking back, the origin is a little bit darker than the happy-go-lucky vibe the brand has now, considering those real bears weren't exactly there by choice.
The Journey from Bonn to the Rest of the World
Haribo stayed a relatively local German secret for a long time. It wasn't until the 1960s that the "Goldbear" we recognize today officially hit the market, replacing the older, thinner "Dancing Bear" and the "Black Bear" (liquorice) versions.
Wait, did you know Haribo didn't even officially come to the United States until 1982?
It’s true. Even though they’d been dominating European candy aisles for decades, Americans were mostly eating Trolli or local brands until Haribo opened an office in Baltimore. Today, they’ve finally opened their first North American factory in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, which just started pumping out gummies in the last couple of years.
Why Your Haribo Tastes Different in Other Countries
If you’ve ever bought a bag of Haribo in London and then one in New York, you might have noticed they don't taste the same. You aren't crazy.
Haribo actually produces their candy in 16 different locations across ten countries. Because of different food regulations and local tastes, the recipes vary. For example:
- German Haribo: Usually uses natural fruit and plant extracts for coloring (like blackcurrant, carrot, or hibiscus). This often makes the colors look a bit more "muted" or dark.
- US Haribo: Until recently, much of the US stock was imported from a factory in Turkey. These versions often used different sweeteners and artificial colors to get those neon-bright reds and yellows that Americans expect.
- UK Haribo: The UK market is obsessed with "Starmix," which has a slightly different texture than the standard continental European gummies.
There’s also a huge difference in the flavors. In Germany, the green Goldbear is strawberry flavored. In the US, the green one is lime. It’s a total mess if you’re trying to keep your palate consistent while traveling.
105 Years of Sugar and Starch
As we move through 2026, Haribo is celebrating its 105th anniversary. It’s still a family-run business, which is pretty wild considering how massive they are. After Hans Sr. died in 1945, his sons, Hans Jr. and Paul, took over. Hans Jr. was the "face" of the company—he’s the one who watched children’s TV and read comic books well into his 80s just to stay in touch with what kids liked. Paul was the "inventor" who stayed in the basement and created the machinery, including the famous liquorice wheel-winding machine.
Today, the global headquarters has moved from that original spot in Bonn to a massive complex in Grafschaft, Germany. But they kept the original factory in Bonn running because, well, tradition matters when you’re selling nostalgia in a bag.
Actionable Tips for Haribo Fans:
- Check the back of the bag: Look at the "Product of" line. If it says "Product of Germany," you’re getting the version with more natural colorings. If it says "Turkey" or "USA," expect a brighter, punchier flavor profile.
- Find a "Haribo Store": If you’re ever in the UK or Germany, look for their flagship retail outlets. They have "Pick 'n' Mix" stations where you can find weird shapes like pasta, fried eggs, and even blue bears that you can't get in the standard supermarket bags.
- Check for the "Halal" or "Kosher" seal: Since Haribo uses pork gelatin for its standard bears, they have specific factories (like the one in Turkey) that produce 100% beef gelatin versions for specific markets. These often have a slightly different "chew" to them—some people actually prefer the beef gelatin texture because it’s a bit firmer.
Next time you're tearing into a bag of Goldbears, just remember: it all started with one guy, a copper pot, and a bicycle in a German backyard.