Family owned-businesses Ritter Sport and Gebr. Heinemann have reflected on a 50-year partnership which has yielded ‘success and profitability’.

The start of the cooperation between the two parties in 1968 stems from Ritter Sport’s commitment to expanding its presence internationally. At the time time, Gebr. Heinemann was also seeking further expansion opportunities.

Claus Heinemann, Co-Owner of Gebr Heinemann said: “In an increasingly competitive international business environment made up of major corporations, our two family businesses provide evidence that SMEs with traditional values can still be successful as global players.

SUCCESS STRATEGY

“This maxim has now bound our two companies together for five decades and has proven profitable for both parties. This fills me with great pride and I am firmly convinced that we will continue to pursue our joint success strategy to great effect in future.”

Co-owner Gunnar Heinemann added: “Whether small or large, crunchily chocolatey, crispy, fruity or nutty— I have loved the wide variety of chocolate squares since I was a child. The brightly coloured bars have occupied a permanent place in my life ever since.

“I am particularly delighted to note that Ritter Sport’s chocolate creations have also occupied a permanent place in our product range for half a century.”

Invented by Clara Ritter in 1932, Ritter Sport has been developing travel retail exclusives and other special products since 2007. These include the Ritter Sport Minis in a 500g bag and as a 250g Tower, the 1000g Ritter Sport Variety Tower containing 10 x 100g bars and the Ritter Sport Minimeter, a metre-long box containing 72 Ritter Sport Minis.

The brightly coloured chocolate bars are available at around 60 Gebr. Heinemann international retail outlets.

Alfred T. Ritter, Owner of Ritter Sport commented: “For us, Gebr. Heinemann is a reliable and effective partner in the travel retail sector and we have achieved growth together. The company has supported us in our efforts to become more established in the travel retail sector. The global structure and the international retail expertise of Gebr. Heinemann offer the basis for this.”

FUTURE PROSPECTS

In recent years, the two companies have intensified their partnership and are facing the various DF&TR challenges with special products and campaigns.

For the 2019/2020 season, Ritter Sport has developed special products specifically for the travel retail market. These include the 397g Choco Cubes bag and 4 x 16.67g Chocolate World.

Ritter Sport has also developed for the first time a channel-specific product exclusively for the airline sales channel, in the form of ‘Play with me’. This includes 4 Minis (4 x 16.67g) and a small game, to help travellers pass the time inflight.