Hero Group is a private, consumer food manufacturer and marketing company based in Switzerland. Focusing baby and toddler food, healthy snacks, and natural spreads,[1] the group brands include Corny Snack Bars and Semper Baby food.[2]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | food and tobacco industry manufacture of prepared meals and dishes other processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables  |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Founder | Gustav Henckell Gustav Zeiler |
| Headquarters | Lenzburg (Aargau), Switzerland |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dr Arend Oetker (Honorary Chairman), Dr Hasso Kaempfe (Chairman of the Board of Directors), Rob Versloot (CEO) |
| Products | Baby & Toddler Food, Baby & Toddler Milk, Jams, Healthy Snacks |
| Revenue |  CHF 1.14 billion (2021) |
Number of employees | 4,300 (2015) |
| Website | www.hero-group.ch |
Overview
editIn 1995, Dr. Arend Oetker acquired a majority shareholding in Hero and re-positioned the Group to focus on branded business. Business segments that no longer fitted this brand strategy were divested. In parallel, the Group embarked on a major geographic expansion program.[citation needed]
Today, Hero is producing products in its core product categories. The Group's operations are based predominantly in Europe, North America, Middle East/Africa and Turkey/Central Asia.
History
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The Hero Group was founded in 1886 in Lenzburg, Switzerland by Gustav Henckell and Gustav Zeiler, two German immigrants.
In 1888, investor Carl Roth joined the business.[3] After Zeiler’s death in 1890, the first two letters of Henckell and Roth's names were combined to name the company ‘Hero Conserven Lenzbourg’.
In 1995, Arend Oetker took a majority holding in Hero with full ownership of the company being transferred to the Oetker family in 2003.[4][5]
In 2024, Hero bought the 'Deliciously Ella' brand, founded by Ella Mills.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Hero Group Divests Nordic Gluten-Free Business To Dr. Schär". ESM Magazine. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ^ Harvey, Simon (2022-11-18). "Switzerland's Hero Group invests in new Spanish factory for baby food". Just Food. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ^ International Directory of Company Histories. St. James Press. 1988. ISBN 978-1-55862-634-8.
- ^ Breiding, R. James (2013-01-10). Swiss Made: The Untold Story Behind Switzerland's Success. Profile Books. ISBN 978-1-84765-809-8.
- ^ Holmes, Madelyn (1988). Forgotten Migrants: Foreign Workers in Switzerland Before World War I. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. ISBN 978-0-8386-3304-5.
- ^ Wood, Zoe (17 September 2024). "Deliciously Ella vegan food brand sold to Swiss group Hero". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
