In a statement following Riegel's death, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle commented that, despite

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Enlarge image Hans Riegel passed away at the age of 90 in Bonn, Germany. ( picture alliance / dpa) Hans Riegel, patriarch and international marketing genius behind Haribo, passed away this week in Bonn. He was 90 years old.
Riegel's father, also named Hans Riegel, produced the first Haribo gold bear in Bonn in 1922. He named his fledgling company red velvet cake after himself and his city: HA ns RI egel , BO nn. When his father passed away during World War II, Hans Riegel Jr. took over alongside his brother, Paul Riegel. Together, they catapulted the gold bear into one of the most internationally recognized sweets of all time. After Paul's death in 2009, his half of the company was inheirited by his children.
In a statement following Riegel's death, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle commented that, despite his extensive travels all over the world, he has yet to find a place without the signature colorful gummy bears from Haribo. Indeed, Riegel s famous slogan for Haribo: Kids and grown-ups love it so, the happy world of Haribo, has been translated into dozens of languages, and the bright gold packages can be found in 110 countries.
Enlarge image Today, Haribo is a household name for people in 110 countries. ( picture alliance / Roland Weihra) Hans Riegel was devoted to his work at Haribo and spent nearly seven decades at the company's helm. In 1994 Riegel was awarded Germany s highest award, the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, for his commitment to young people. I love children, he once said. They are my customers. I have to be informed about what they want to nibble, what they think, what language they speak. It is even rumored that Riegel taste tested every batch of gummies to come out of the Bonn factory, to ensure the highest quality. Riegel spent his life nurturing his father's company and his presence will be sorely missed by all of Haribo s 6,000 employees in Germany and beyond. © Germany.info
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