Viba sweets Group

Viba sweets Group is your trusted partner for premium quality, maximum indulgence and highly emotional gift ideas made in Germany since 1893. As a family-owned business with a team of more than 1000 passionate people, we truly care for our brands, products and partners.

Our brand Viba stands for hazelnut indulgence next level: With over 60% market share, Viba is Germany’s market leader for German-style “Nougat”, a smooth hazelnut praliné similar to Italian gianduja. With more than 30 different “Nougat” specialties, Viba offers an unrivalled variety in this segment. Our Viba Nougat recipe has remained unchanged since 1920.

Confiserie HEILEMANN is located in the Allgäu region (close to castle Neuschwanstein) and known as premium supplier of a remarkable collection of high-quality pralines, chocolate bars and chocolate figures. We are proud to be part of Viba sweets Group since 2016.

In May 2024, the well-renowned retail brands HUSSEL and arko became part of our Viba Group family. HUSSEL and arko stand for the full variety of sweet premium indulgence, including complementary product categories like biscuits, candy, or coffee. With a total of 180 premium stores including franchisees, we are now the largest confectionery retail chain in Germany.

Viba – In Love with Nougat since 1893

From a small coffee shop to the Nougat market leader in Germany…

1893 – 1930s

Establishment & Rise

The story of Thuringian nougat begins with the opening of a small coffee shop by master confectioner Willy Viebahn and his sister Anna.

Among their homemade pastries and confectionery, hazelnut praliné called “Nougat” quickly becomes the flagship product.

The first nougat bar is born. To keep up with the rising demand for the popular Nougat, Anna Reim buys a cigar packaging machine to pack Nougat in a consumer-ready size. Since then, Viba Nougat has been known and loved in its typical, round bar shape.

Pictures: "Café Viebahn", Anna & Willy Viebahn, cigar packaging machine.

1940s – 70s

Crises & Restart

WW2 and a lack of raw material slow down the production. But the family keeps spirits high and diversifies their portfolio with glazings and fillings for bakeries.

1950s: After the end of WW2, the company is rebuilt, and production starts to gain momentum again, being partly nationalised in the 1950s. The company’s Nougat praliné has become so popular that it is only available as “Bückware“- which was the name for products which were held underneath the counter for only a limited (and very lucky!) amount of people.

1960s: Together with the sportsmedical institute of Berlin, a new secret fruit concentrate bar is developed in the early 1960s as nutritional supplement for the GDR olympic sports team. In 1967, the bar is launched to the public as the first fruit bar on the market.

In 1972 the company is fully transferred into public ownership and operates under the name VEB Nouma. Despite limited availability of raw materials, the original Nougat recipe stays untouched thanks to the production manager’s commitment to quality.

Pictures: Sugar Cussions production in 1950s, fruit bar production, truck of the state owned company in GDR, Viba site in Schmalkalden at the end of 1990s

Mitarbeiter beim Rösten von Haselnüssen in den 1950er Jahren

Produktion der Frucht-Konzentrat-Schnitte

1990s – 2000s

New Start & Modernisation

1989: German reunion – all companies in the former GDR undergo a restructuring process

1992: The entrepreneurs Karl Heinz Einhäuser and Holger Storch take over, and soon launch the brand „Viba“ as a tribute to the founding family’s name Viebahn.

Viba products are getting listed in German retail stores and production grows steadily.

1997: Relocation to a state-of-the-art factory in Floh-Seligenthal near Schmalkalden.

Picture: The company owners Karl Heinz Einhäuser (left) and Holger Storch (right) in front of the new company premises.

2010s – today

Expansion & Market Leadership

Viba starts to open own brand stores throughout Germany from 2004.

2012: Opening of the ‘Viba Nougat World’ - a brand experience center with flagship store, show production and restaurant that attracts more than 120’000 visitors each year.

2016: Confiserie HEILEMANN becomes part of Viba sweets Group and complements the group portfolio with premium chocolate products.

2024: The Viba sweets family grows by taking over the nationwide store network of the famous confectionery retailers HUSSEL, arko and Eilles.

Today Viba is Germany’s market leader in the pure Nougat hazelnut praliné segment.

With more than 180 specialized confectionery stores under 5 different brands, Viba sweets Group it a relevant market player in confectionery manufacturing and the biggest specialized confectionery retailer in Germany.

The range includes a large premium variety of Nougat praliné, chocolates, chocolate art, biscuits, candy, coffee, tea and confectionery.

Pictures: Viba Nougat-Welt in Schmalkalden, Viba Nougat bar packaging evolution, today's Viba sweets group brands

Viba Shop in Einkaufscenter Thüringen Park Erfurt Außenansicht

Logos Viba, Confiserie HEILEMANN, arko, HUSSEL, Eilles

Viba product categories:

Nougat

The Viba "Classic"
since 1920

Nougat spread

without palm oil

Royal Nougat Creme auf dem Frühstückstisch

Chocolate bars

filled with nougat

Fruit bars

suitable for toddlers

Sugar Cushions

extra fresh and tender

Chocolate Sticks

filled with nougat

Viba Schokoladen Sticks mit Nougat Füllung

Nougat gold ingots

with layered nougat

Viba Schichtnougat in Goldbarren Verpackung

Christmas

Saisonal Items

HEILEMANN – More than Chocolate

History of Confiserie HEILEMANN

1955 – 1980s

Establishment & Relocation

1955: Opening of a small pastry shop in Memmingen by master confectioner Karl Heilemann who soon became famous for offering the finest handmade chocolates in the Allgäu region.

1977: Expansion and relocation of the company to the small town Woringen with new production facility where we still produce today.

1982: New Owner: After the sudden death of Karl Heilemann, the company becomes a part of the Friedel Group.

Pictures: Karl Heilemann, Confiserie Heilemann production facility in Woringen, hand-decorated pralinés.

Konterfei von Karl Heilemann dem Gründer der Confiserie HEILEMANN

Pralinen werden von flüssiger Schokolade überzogen

2001 – 2016

Becoming part of Viba sweets

2001: Independence: Mr. Rainer Röcker acquires the company from the Friedel Group in order to revive the legacy of the independent premium chocolatier with fine pralines and high-quality chocolate.

2007: Expansion of the production facility to increase variety of pralines, chocolate bars, hollow figures and seasonal items.

2016: Viba sweets GmbH takes over Confiserie Heilemann. Excellence in nougat praliné and chocolate expertise complement each other perfectly and new product innovations come to life.

2019 – today

Innovation & Rebranding

2019: Ruby Chocolate – Yes, its really pink! Pioneering the launch of naturally pink Ruby Chocolate as Germany’s first professional chocolatier with a full Ruby chocolate range.

Brand relaunch in 2022. Fresh, unique designs strengthen and modernize HEILEMANN’s brand identity - while keeping Karl Heilemann’s legacy alive. Because at HEILEMANN, we stand for More than Chocolate!

2024: HEILEMANN is experiencing a significant moment in its history with the integration of arko, HUSSEL, and Eilles into the Viba sweets group as of May 1st. With the acquisition of around 160 locations, HEILEMANN is also becoming part of a strong group of companies that now unites five traditional brands.