Businessman. Riegel, who served as a soldier in World War II and returned to Germany in 1946 after spending time as a prisoner of war, was the son of the founder of Haribo, which is famous worldwide for their production of gummi bears. When Hans, Sr. died in 1945, Riegel and his younger brother, Paul, set about rebuilding the family firm. Haribo had only about 30 employees immediately after the war but, as West Germany's economy took off, the number was up to 1,000 five years later. He studied economics at the University of Bonn and completed a doctorate in 1951 on the global sugar industry. In the 1960s and 1970s, he acquired businesses in the Netherlands, France and Britain and in 1982, added a U.S. sales office in Baltimore. The company now employs more than 6,000 people worldwide and has 15 production sites in 10 European countries. In 1994, Riegel was awarded Germany's highest honor, the Federal Cross of Merit, which was in recognition not only of his business career but of his commitment to social issues, such as encouraging the training of talented young people, and sports. Riegel, who was a passionate player and promoter of badminton, died of heart failure while recuperating from surgery for the removal a benign brain tumor.
Businessman. Riegel, who served as a soldier in World War II and returned to Germany in 1946 after spending time as a prisoner of war, was the son of the founder of Haribo, which is famous worldwide for their production of gummi bears. When Hans, Sr. died in 1945, Riegel and his younger brother, Paul, set about rebuilding the family firm. Haribo had only about 30 employees immediately after the war but, as West Germany's economy took off, the number was up to 1,000 five years later. He studied economics at the University of Bonn and completed a doctorate in 1951 on the global sugar industry. In the 1960s and 1970s, he acquired businesses in the Netherlands, France and Britain and in 1982, added a U.S. sales office in Baltimore. The company now employs more than 6,000 people worldwide and has 15 production sites in 10 European countries. In 1994, Riegel was awarded Germany's highest honor, the Federal Cross of Merit, which was in recognition not only of his business career but of his commitment to social issues, such as encouraging the training of talented young people, and sports. Riegel, who was a passionate player and promoter of badminton, died of heart failure while recuperating from surgery for the removal a benign brain tumor.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Riegel memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
