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German 'Gummy Bear King' Hans Riegel dies at age 90

Hans Riegel, 'Gummy Bear King' of German candymaker Haribo, has died.

By Kristen Butler
Packets of Haribo brand candy. (CC/Michael Bertrand)
Packets of Haribo brand candy. (CC/Michael Bertrand)

(UPI) -- Hans Riegel, who helmed the German confectionary Haribo for nearly 70 years, has died unexpectedly of heart failure at the age of 90.

Haribo, short for Hans Riegel Bonn, was founded by Riegel's father in 1920, and was most famous for its gummy bears, originally called dancing bears.

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The iconic gummy bears, inspired by the performing bears often seen in circuses of that era, got a 2007 makeover changing their formerly fierce expressions to smiles.

Haribo, which employs some 6,000 people at 15 worldwide locations, gave Riegel a net worth of $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.

Riegel had a brain tumor successfully removed last year, and his passing was unexpected according to his office.

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