History of HiPP
History
As a pioneer of organic farming, Claus Hipp had to do a great deal to raise awareness. Today, HiPP is the largest processor of organic-biological raw materials worldwide. Here you can learn more about Hipp’s history...
1899: The origin of a great idea
HiPP bakery in Pfaffenhofen
In the second half of the 19th century, grandfather Joseph Hipp (1867 – 1926), who came from Günzburg an der Donau, worked in a bakery and candle shop in Pfaffenhofen – a shop he later took over himself.
In 1897, Joseph Hipp married Maria Ostermayer, a woman from Pfaffenhofen, and together they laid the foundations for a family with many children. After the birth of a daughter in 1898, twins were born in 1899 who had nutrition problems. Their mother had problems with breastfeeding, which is why their father had to solve this nutrition problem.
As a creative baker this was not too difficult for him. He baked rusks and made his own rusk flour. With the rusk flour he enriched the milk which then became much more filling. The twins survived and thrived, as did the next five children!
1960: Baby meals in a jar
The rusk flour for children was still available on the German market well into the 1970s.
In the middle of the 20th century, Georg Hipp decided to manufacture weaning food industrially following the American model. In 1957/58, four items were launched on the market: two types of vegetable meals and two menus.
Very soon (1959/60), the packaging changed from tins to the much handier and hygienically safe jars.
The HiPP product range grew larger and larger, from juices to junior food and meat preparations, from children’s desserts to children’s menus and whole-grain fruit paps.
1956: Pioneer in organic farming
Simultaneous to the first industrial production of baby food, Georg Hipp started with the cultivation of fruit and vegetables on natural soils and without the use of chemicals in 1956. Impressed by the idea of the Swiss pioneer, Dr. Hans Müller, the founder of organic-biological farming, he now had one goal: to produce healthy and tasty baby food from organic raw materials.
The family-owned Ehrensberg farm near Pfaffenhofen then converted to organic production. Son Claus and his two brothers, Georg and Paulus, took over the management in 1967 and developed the idea of organic farming further, step by step.
As a pioneer of organic farming, Claus Hipp travelled from farmer to farmer himself to engage in the difficult task of raising awareness. Gradually he managed to convince the farmers of his idea, and he managed to build up a network of organic farm contractors.
(Source: www.hipp.com)