Hape Holding
| Hape Holding AG | |
|---|---|
| legal form | Corporation |
| founding | 1986 |
| Seat | Lucerne , Switzerland |
| management | Peter Handstein, founder and CEO |
| Number of employees | approx. 1,800 (2017) |
| sales | € 160 million (2016) |
| Branch | Toys |
| Website | www.hape.com |
The Hape (Hapé) Holding AG is a German-Swiss toy manufacturer, based in Lucerne , Switzerland . Hape is best known for its wooden toys and educational play materials. Renewable raw materials such as wood and bamboo play a central role in the range.
Locations and holdings
Hape Holding has 36 companies in 14 countries. There are branches in Germany , China , Italy , France , England , Canada , USA , Romania , Japan and Switzerland. The production facilities are in Ningbo (China), Jelgava ( Latvia ), Avrig (Romania), Donauwörth (Germany) and Eppendorf (Germany). The company name was created in 1986 from the first letters of the founder Peter Handstein.
In addition to the parent brand Hape, the brands Käthe Kruse (named after the actress Käthe Kruse ), Senger Naturwelt, Poly-M and George Luck belong to the holding's brand portfolio. In addition to the brand business, Hape Holding AG has strategically invested in various companies in the retail and distribution sector.
Company history
Peter Handstein grew up in a rural community in Hesse . His professional career began in his parents' company, where he followed family tradition and learned the trade of blacksmith . He made his first experiences with toys as a representative of a company for educational toys in German kindergartens. In 1986 he founded the company Hape Kiga Service Groß-Eichen, which deals with the equipment of kindergartens. At the beginning of the 1990s, more than 100 representatives were working for him and he acquired the companies Beleduc and Spiele Gut (later "Spielquelle" and now "Spielwelle").
The company size of Hape increased significantly in the following years. In 1995 a new factory was built in Ningbo , China, which was one of the earliest WFOE ( Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise ) companies. Fascinated by the bamboo plantations that surrounded Handstein's new adopted home, he encouraged his designers to experiment with this rapidly renewable raw material. This initiative led to an alliance with UNESCO and, in 2005, to the first comprehensive range of toys made from bamboo. Bamboo toys are now an integral part of the Hape collection. In 2013 Käthe Kruse was taken over.
Hape is a multinational company that sells its toys in over 60 countries. Over the years, the product lines of wooden and bamboo toys have been expanded to include classic dolls, plush toys and licensed products. 143 million toys have been sold since the company was founded.
Products
The product range includes over 4000 items. The range is divided into five age groups: from 0 months, from 12 months, from 18 months, from 3 years and from 6 years.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Süddeutsche Zeitung Accessed on October 10, 2017.
- ↑ A children's kitchen conquers the Welt Süddeutsche Zeitung , June 7, 2016, accessed on August 21, 2018
- ↑ Käthe Kruse GmbH - Official website , accessed on October 10, 2017
- ↑ Senger Naturwelt - Official website , accessed on October 10, 2017
- ↑ How Donauwörth became the home of the dolls . Augsburger Allgemeine , November 25, 2016; accessed on August 21, 2018
- ↑ a b Childhood Business I just want to make good toys , accessed October 10, 2017