Where Is The UK Haribo Factory?

If you’re asking “where is the HARIBO factory in the UK?…

The short answer is: HARIBO’s major UK manufacturing and distribution hub is in Castleford, West Yorkshire, with longstanding production presence in nearby Pontefract (home of a HARIBO factory shop and historic liquorice production).

The Castleford site was developed to expand UK production capacity and handle growing demand for key lines such as Starmix and Tangfastics.

A quick history of the HARIBO brand

HARIBO began in Bonn, Germany in 1920 when founder Hans (Johannes) Riegel started making sweets from a small kitchen setup — the company name itself is an acronym of HAns RIegel BOnn. In 1922 Riegel developed the first gummy “dancing bear” that would evolve into the famous Goldbears, and over the following decades HARIBO expanded from licorice and local sweets into a global gummy and confectionery business. The firm grew through new products and select acquisitions (for example Maoam), and today markets its products in well over 100 countries.

Why Castleford? Why is the factory located in West Yorkshire?

The decision to build a large purpose-built plant in Castleford (announced in 2013 and brought into production in the mid-2010s) was driven by practical and commercial reasons: existing UK capacity around Pontefract was nearing its limits, and West Yorkshire offered a skilled local workforce, strong transport links for UK and export distribution, and space for a modern, high-capacity facility. The Castleford investment — reported at around £92m for the initial build — aimed to increase annual production capacity, protect UK supply chains, and bring key product lines (and jobs) to the region. Subsequent investments and warehouse expansions have meant Castleford remains the principal manufacturing and distribution hub for HARIBO’s UK business.

The history timeline (in brief)

From a tiny Bonn workshop in 1920 to a multinational confectioner, HARIBO’s milestones include inventing the gummy bear in 1922, expanding into licorice, buying established brands such as Maoam, and steadily rolling out production and sales offices across Europe and beyond. UK activity dates back decades (including a takeover of a local licorice maker in the 1970s), with modern UK manufacturing growth culminating in the Castleford site to service British demand.

Nine of HARIBO’s best-selling products (UK perspective)

HARIBO’s UK best sellers tend to be a mix of classic and mix-bag formats. In the UK market the perennial favourites include:

1. Starmix
2. Tangfastics
3. Goldbears (Gummi Bears)
4. Supermix
5. Fizzy/Happy Cola (cola bottles)
6. Twin Snakes
7. Peaches (giant peaches)
8. Roulette/Mega-Roulette
9. Maoam soft chews

Starmix and Tangfastics are regularly called out as battling for the top-seller spot in Britain, while Goldbears remain the brand’s global icon.

The broader HARIBO product range

HARIBO’s portfolio is wide: classic fruit gummies (Goldbears), assorted mixed bags (Starmix, Supermix), sour ranges (Z!NG sour variants), novelty shapes (bears, cola bottles, fruit shapes, dinosaurs), liquorice specialities (including Pontefract cakes historically linked to the UK), marshmallow-style items (Chamallows) and chewy sweets under the MAOAM brand.

The company releases seasonal variants and regional ranges too (special editions for Easter, Halloween and local markets), so the number of products worldwide is large and constantly refreshed.

Other HARIBO factories around the world

HARIBO operates multiple production sites internationally. The group runs factories across Germany, other European countries, and in the Americas, with additional sites such as in Brazil. In total, HARIBO has more than a dozen major production plants worldwide. Each regional factory supplies nearby markets while also contributing to export flows.

How big is HARIBO financially?

HARIBO is a multi-billion-euro private company. Publicly compiled figures commonly place the group’s revenue in the range of approximately €1.7–€2.0 billion annually. The Goldbears and core gummy lines represent a large share of the company’s sales globally.

Can you buy HARIBO in the UK? (and One Pound Sweets)

Yes — HARIBO is widely available in supermarkets, convenience stores, specialist sweet shops and online. There are also HARIBO brand stores and factory shops in the UK (for example the Pontefract factory shop).

If you’re shopping online for everyday packs, pocket money bags or bulk formats, retailers like One Pound Sweets list HARIBO products as part of their range — meaning you can buy many of the popular HARIBO varieties from One Pound Sweets’ online sweet shop alongside other confectionery favourites.

Final thoughts

HARIBO’s UK presence today combines heritage (Pontefract’s licorice connections) with modern manufacturing (the Castleford plant and recent expansions). That mix explains why the firm chose West Yorkshire: a ready labour pool, good transport links for national distribution, historic local sweets expertise and room for a modern, high-output site.

Whether you’re after classic Goldbears, a bag of Starmix, a sour Tangfastics fix or seasonal novelties, HARIBO’s UK facilities help keep those sweets on British shelves — and yes, you can find many of those lines at online retailers like One Pound Sweets.