Hero Group

Not to be confused with Indian company Hero Motors Company.
The Hero Group
Company typePrivate
IndustryFood industry manufacture of prepared meals and dishes other processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables
Founded1886; 140 years ago (1886)
FounderGustav Henckell
Gustav Zeiler
HeadquartersLenzburg (Aargau), Switzerland
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Dr. Arend Oetker (honorary chairman)
  • Dr. Hasso Kaempfe (chairman of the Board of Directors)
  • Rob Versloot (CEO)
ProductsBaby & Toddler Food, Baby & Toddler Milk, Jams, Healthy Snacks
RevenueIncrease CHF 1.14 billion (2021)
Number of employees
4,300 (2015)
Websitewww.hero-group.ch

Hero Group is a privately held 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]

Overview

In 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

Small jars of Hero jam and marmalade at a brunch buffet

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

  1. ^ "Hero Group Divests Nordic Gluten-Free Business To Dr. Schär". ESM Magazine. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  2. ^ Harvey, Simon (2022-11-18). "Switzerland's Hero Group invests in new Spanish factory for baby food". Just Food. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  3. ^ International Directory of Company Histories. St. James Press. 1988. ISBN 978-1-55862-634-8.
  4. ^ Breiding, R. James (2013-01-10). Swiss Made: The Untold Story Behind Switzerland's Success. Profile Books. ISBN 978-1-84765-809-8.
  5. ^ Holmes, Madelyn (1988). Forgotten Migrants: Foreign Workers in Switzerland Before World War I. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. ISBN 978-0-8386-3304-5.
  6. ^ Wood, Zoe (17 September 2024). "Deliciously Ella vegan food brand sold to Swiss group Hero". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_Group