Ed. Haas Austria

Ed. Haas Austria Ges.m.b.H. is an Austrian food and confectionery manufacturer headquartered in Traun, Upper Austria. The company traces its origins to 1915, when Katharina Haas registered the trademark "HASIN zur Bereitung von Gesundheitsgugelhupf" in the imperial and royal trademark register on behalf of her 18-year-old son, Eduard Haas III. Eduard Haas III had already been producing baking powder, which his grandfather Eduard Haas I, a doctor and barber-surgeon in St. Martin im Mühlkreis, had once prescribed to him as a medicine. His father, Eduard Haas II, had founded a general store in the Linz district of Untergaumberg where this flour was sold. After the trademark registration in 1915, Eduard Haas III, who had taken over his father's shop, began large-scale production. The company's best-known product is the PEZ candy, invented in 1927 and marketed as the "luxury mint of the elegant world." Two years after the patented PEZ dispenser (PEZ boxes) was invented in 1950, the company expanded into international markets, above all the United States. By 1966, 350 million PEZ boxes had been sold, and PEZ candies accounted for 70 percent of all Austrian sugar confectionery exports at that time. The US PEZ business was sold in the 1960s but bought back in 2006. Beyond PEZ candies and the PEZ dispensers that are highly popular among collectors, Ed. Haas Austria also produces baking powder and other foods and food ingredients, such as pudding powder. In 2005, PEZ candies were available in around 90 countries worldwide; 4.2 billion candies and 80 million PEZ dispensers were produced. 98 percent of the candies were sold abroad, with around 50 percent in the United States alone. The main production site is Traun, where 105 of the group's 770 employees worked. PEZ candies are also produced in Orange, Connecticut, while PEZ dispensers are made in Hungary and China. In 2005, after a loss-making 2004, Ed. Haas Austria returned to a net profit of 1.95 million euros, while revenue rose to a record 65.9 million euros. In 2012, the group generated revenue of 140.8 million euros, to which PEZ contributed 53 percent, Haas 33.5 percent, and Ring 13.5 percent. The company also produces a range of mustards under the Haas brand, including Haas Senf, Grillsenf, Estragonsenf, Kremser Senf, Biersenf, Bayrischer Senf, and Balsamico Senf. In Austria, it holds exclusive production and distribution rights for Capri-Sun, Fisherman's Friend, Hustinetten, and Mentos.

The history of Ed. Haas Austria begins with the Haas family in Upper Austria. Eduard Haas I was a doctor and barber-surgeon in St. Martin im Mühlkreis, and he once prescribed a flour-based medicine to his grandson Eduard Haas III. Eduard Haas II, son of Eduard Haas I, founded a general store in the Linz district of Untergaumberg where this flour was among the goods sold. The flour proved useful as baking powder for cakes such as the Gugelhupf. Eduard Haas III, who took over his father's shop, began producing baking powder on a large scale after the trademark "HASIN zur Bereitung von Gesundheitsgugelhupf" was registered in the imperial and royal trademark register in 1915 by Katharina Haas in the name of her 18-year-old son. In 1927, Eduard Haas III invented the peppermint candy "PEZ," which was advertised as the "luxury mint of the elegant world." The PEZ dispenser (PEZ box) was patented in 1950, and two years later the company began to develop international markets, above all the United States. By 1966, 350 million PEZ boxes had been sold, and PEZ candies accounted for 70 percent of all Austrian sugar confectionery exports at that time. During the 1960s, the US PEZ business was sold, but in 2006 it was bought back. Over the decades, the company expanded its product range beyond PEZ. It produces baking powder and other foods and food ingredients such as pudding powder, as well as a range of mustards under the Haas brand. In Austria, it holds exclusive production and distribution rights for Capri-Sun, Fisherman's Friend, Hustinetten, and Mentos. In 2005, PEZ candies were available in around 90 countries; 4.2 billion candies and 80 million PEZ dispensers were produced, with 98 percent of candies sold abroad and around 50 percent in the United States alone. The main production site is Traun, where 105 of the group's 770 employees worked; PEZ candies are also produced in Orange, Connecticut, while PEZ dispensers are made in Hungary and China. Financially, the company returned to profit in 2005 with a net income of 1.95 million euros after a loss in 2004, and revenue reached a record 65.9 million euros. By 2012, the group's revenue was 140.8 million euros, with PEZ contributing 53 percent, Haas 33.5 percent, and Ring 13.5 percent. The company remains headquartered in Traun, Upper Austria, and continues to operate as a private limited company (Ges.m.b.H.).

• 2012

  Group revenue of 140.8 million euros, with PEZ contributing 53%, Haas 33.5%, and Ring 13.5%.

• 2006

  US PEZ business bought back.

• 2005

  Return to net profit of 1.95 million euros; revenue reaches record 65.9 million euros; PEZ candies available in around 90 countries; 4.2 billion candies and 80 million dispensers produced.

• 2004

  Loss-making year for Ed. Haas Austria.

• 1966

  350 million PEZ boxes sold; PEZ candies account for 70% of Austrian sugar confectionery exports.

• 1960

  US PEZ business sold (decade of the 1960s).

• 1952

  International market expansion begins, above all in the United States.

• 1950

  Patent of the PEZ dispenser (PEZ box).

• 1927

  Invention of the peppermint candy "PEZ," advertised as the "luxury mint of the elegant world."

• 1915

  Katharina Haas registers the trademark "HASIN zur Bereitung von Gesundheitsgugelhupf" in the imperial and royal trademark register on behalf of her son Eduard Haas III; large-scale baking powder production begins.

Austrian heritage confectionery and food manufacturer, globally known for PEZ candies and collectible dispensers.

• PEZ candies

  Peppermint candy invented in 1927, marketed as the "luxury mint of the elegant world."

• PEZ dispensers

  Patented in 1950, highly popular among collectors.

• Baking powder

  The original product that led to the company's founding.

• Pudding powder

  Food ingredient produced by the company.

• Haas mustard range

  Includes Haas Senf, Grillsenf, Estragonsenf, Kremser Senf, Biersenf, Bayrischer Senf, Balsamico Senf.

• Exclusive distribution in Austria: Capri-Sun, Fisherman's Friend, Hustinetten, Mentos

  Exclusive production and distribution rights in Austria.

1. 1Ed. Haas Austria - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Ed. Haas Austria - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org