Overview

Johannes Peter "Hans" Riegel (10 March 1923 – 15 October 2013) was a German entrepreneur best known for leading the confectionery firm Haribo after World War II. As the eldest son of the company founder, he oversaw the firm through a period of rebuilding and growth and maintained its identity as a family-owned business based in Bonn, Germany.

Early life and education

Born in Bonn in 1923, Riegel grew up in a household linked to confectionery craft. His father, Hans Riegel Sr., had founded the company and is credited with creating the original gummy bear in the early 1920s (gummy bear). The younger Riegel studied at the University of Bonn before assuming day-to-day responsibility for the firm after the war.

Leadership and business development

Taking over management of Haribo in 1946, Riegel guided the company through reconstruction, product standardization and expanding production to meet postwar demand. Under his stewardship Haribo strengthened its flagship products—most notably the Goldbears—and increased distribution beyond Germany, making the brand familiar across Europe. He placed importance on quality control, brand recognition, and keeping the company privately owned and family-directed.

Other ventures and personal interests

Beyond the factory and sweets business, Riegel invested in hospitality and leisure: he owned and operated the Jakobsburg Hotel and Golf Resort near Boppard in the Rhine Valley, a property that combined accommodation with recreational amenities. His interests reflected a blend of regional commitment and a preference for businesses that complemented Haribo’s public profile.

Death and legacy

Riegel died on 15 October 2013 in Bonn at the age of 90. His death followed a surgical procedure intended to remove a brain tumor; medical reports cited heart failure as the cause of death following the operation in North Rhine-Westphalia. He left behind a company that remained privately held and widely recognized for its gummy candies. Haribo’s global visibility and the enduring popularity of gummy bears are central elements of his legacy.

Notable facts

  • Haribo was established by his father and became synonymous with gummy bears, which were invented in the early 1920s.
  • Riegel’s tenure began in the immediate postwar era, a critical period for industrial recovery in Germany.
  • He combined industrial management with investments in regional tourism and leisure.

Today, Haribo remains one of the most recognizable names in confectionery, and Hans Riegel is remembered for sustaining and expanding the family enterprise while preserving its private ownership and brand focus.