Confectionery house Haribo is celebrating National Gummi Bear Day (27 April) with a striking makeover of The Moodie Davitt Report desktop homepage, along with an elegantly curated treatment on our mobile website.
Now in its 104th year, the Haribo Goldbears range is the star of the makeover. Available in over 100 countries, Haribo Goldbears remain a key growth driver in travel retail, particularly in Asia and the Americas.
First established in 2021 between Haribo and the National Day Calendar, 27 April is officially recognised as National Gummi Bear Day, underlining Haribo Goldbears’ global popularity.
According to the brand owner, the day celebrates the “joy and playfulness” that gummi bears have brought to consumers across generations. It was established in 2022 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Goldbears.
Haribo’s origins date back to 1922, when founder Hans Riegel created the first fruit gum sweets in Bonn, Germany. Working from his home kitchen, Riegel developed the original ‘Tanzbären’ (Dancing Bears), inspired by 19th-century fairground performers. These sweets would later evolve into the Haribo Goldbears.
Today, Haribo produces approximately 160 million Goldbears daily, including Halal-certified variants. While Haribo currently has more than 1,000 products in its portfolio, the brand is best known for its colourful gummi bears.
Despite evolving in shape and presentation over the decades, the product has stayed true to its original purpose: delivering a ‘taste like childhood’.
For Haribo Managing Partner Hans Guido Riegel, grandson of founder Hans Riegel, Goldbears are more than a star product.
He said: “The Goldbears are our most precious family heirloom. My grandfather invented them, and it is the task of all subsequent generations to nurture this legacy and develop it further with such care that it will continue to bring joy to people all over the world for decades to come.” ✈
