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.
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
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]
External links
References
- Hero Group Divests Nordic Gluten-Free Business To Dr. Schär ESM Magazine, 2023-09-18, retrieved 2024-06-28^
- Simon Harvey. Switzerland's Hero Group invests in new Spanish factory for baby food Just Food, 2022-11-18, retrieved 2024-06-28^
- International Directory of Company Histories St. James Press, 1988^
- R. James Breiding. Swiss Made: The Untold Story Behind Switzerland's Success Profile Books, 2013-01-10^
- Madelyn Holmes. Forgotten Migrants: Foreign Workers in Switzerland Before World War I Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1988^
- Zoe Wood. Deliciously Ella vegan food brand sold to Swiss group Hero The Guardian, 17 September 2024, retrieved 21 September 2024^