German Confectioner Haribo To Open First U.S. Factory In Wisconsin

Oh, this is sweet news for Wisconsin, and for U.S. fans of gummy bears and licorice. The German candy maker Haribo is acquiring property in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, for its first U.S. production facility.

The family-owned Haribo, famous for its Gold-Bear brand gummy candies, will begin production in 2020 at what Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is hailing as one of the largest, most sophisticated confectionery factories in the United States. The company currently has 16 production facilities in 10 countries, where it employs 7,000 people.

“As a global company with products that are loved by millions, and a legacy that dates back nearly a century, Haribo is a great fit with the many other iconic companies that already call Wisconsin home,” Walker said in a statement. About 400 jobs are expected to be created.

Founded in Bonn, Germany, in 1920, Haribo is the world market leader in the fruit gum and licorice segment, producing 100 million Gold-Bears daily worldwide. The beloved Gold-Bears are the original gummy candy.

In an email statement, Hans Guido Riegel, the confectioner’s managing partner, said Haribo is the “fastest-growing candymaker in the United States,” Reuters reported.

The company has been looking to expand into the U.S. market for several years, he said. The move puts Haribo in head-to-head competition with other U.S. giants, including Mars Chocolate, Mondelez International and Hershey Foods, according to Fortune.

Walker said the Kenosha County facility will be one of the largest investments of new operations by an overseas company in Wisconsin history.

Photo by Thomas Rosenau via Wikimedia Commons