Haribo cancels US$336.8M Germany factory plan
The confectionery maker will retain its existing Neuss facility and focus on modernising its German manufacturing network after shelving plans for a new plant.
GERMANY – Haribo has cancelled plans to build a new €300 million (US$336.76M) confectionery factory in Germany, citing supply chain disruption and higher construction costs caused by global market conditions.
The Goldbears maker had announced the investment in May 2024 for a new facility at the Neuss-Holzheim industrial park in North Rhine-Westphalia. Production was scheduled to begin in 2028, with the project expected to create about 100 local jobs.
The planned factory was designed to double Haribo’s production capacity in Germany, using its existing Jülicher Landstrasse facility, located about five kilometres away, as a reference point.
Under the original plan, Haribo intended to operate both sites simultaneously for fruit gums and Maoam production until 2030. The older Jülicher Landstrasse facility would then have been decommissioned as production moved to the new plant.
Haribo had previously said the existing site could not be expanded in a way that was “sustainable” and “future-orientated” to accommodate increasing consumer demand.
The company has now reversed the planned closure and confirmed that the Jülicher Landstrasse factory will remain operational, with its workforce retained.
“In recent years, ongoing global crises have led to supply chain disruption and increases in the cost of building materials,” a Haribo spokesperson told Just Food. “A project of this size requires certainty, both in terms of timeframes and budget.”
The company said it remains committed to its manufacturing presence in Germany and will instead focus on “modernising” its existing facilities.
Haribo also confirmed that its existing Neuss plant will remain part of its future operations. The spokesperson said the facility remains an integral part of the Haribo family and a central component of our future business plans.
Haribo operates additional manufacturing sites in Germany in Bonn, Solingen and Grafschaft.
The decision marks a change from the company’s 2024 expansion plans, which included acquiring around 14 hectares of land at Neuss-Holzheim for a modern production facility.
The proposed site was intended to support growing demand while incorporating sustainability measures, including renewable energy and reduced resource consumption.
Haribo’s previous investment programme has included £22 million in its two Yorkshire factories in the UK in 2021. The investment supported expanded production of reduced-sugar sweets.
The company’s latest decision keeps the Jülicher Landstrasse operation active while Haribo reviews its manufacturing plans and continues investment in its existing German production network.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
