Hundreds of shoppers wait in line as first Scottish Haribo store opens in Glasgow

Hundreds of shoppers queued up to visit Scotland’s first Haribo store as it opened in Glasgow.

The store in Silverburn’s shopping centre is the 12th UK Haribo store and the most northerly in the world.

It includes a pick ‘n’ mix station, flavours from around Europe, and exclusive merchandise.

Haribo operates two UK-based manufacturing plants, in Pontefract and Castleford in Yorkshire, and employs over 700 people across its factories and retail sites.

Hundreds of shoppers queued from early morning to be among the first to visit the store, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the brand’s mascot Goldbear.

Hundreds of shoppers wait in line as first Scottish Haribo store opens. Supplied

Representatives from Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity also attended the opening.

Founded in 1920 in Bonn, Germany the brand takes its name from that of the founder Hans Riegel Senior and the town: Hans Rigel Bonn.

Rebecca Fox, Head of Retail at HARIBO UK, said: “Today was a fantastic day that exceeded all our expectations. Seeing the excitement and joy on customers’ faces as they explored our first Scottish store was incredibly special.

“The overwhelming response from Glasgow shoppers confirms what we always knew – Scotland was ready for HARIBO, and HARIBO was ready for Scotland.

“This opening represents a significant milestone in our retail expansion strategy. After the success of our Bluewater opening in February and the refurbishment of our Somerset store in July, bringing HARIBO to Scotland feels like the perfect way to continue our growth story.”

Deputy Leader at Glasgow City Council Cllr Richard Bell said: “This is a great addition to Silverburn’s retail offer and I’m delighted that HARIBO, with its incredible global reach and recognition, has selected Glasgow as the location of its most northern store in the world.

“Of course, this is going to be a huge draw for youngsters from all over the country and you can see that popularity already today. But don’t bet against the grown-ups popping in too for some Star Mix or Tangfastics.

“And it’s great to see Haribo Silverburn choosing Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity as its charity partner, as they celebrate today’s grand opening.”

Caroline Young, Head of Fundraising, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are thrilled that HARIBO Silverburn has chosen Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity as their charity partner, as they celebrate the opening of this first HARIBO store in Scotland.

“This partnership will help us make a lasting difference for the babies, children, and young people cared for at Scotland’s largest children’s hospital.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of HARIBO Silverburn, and we wish the team every success with the exciting launch of their new store.”

David Pierotti, General Manager at Silverburn, said: “The opening of HARIBO’s first ever Scottish store at Silverburn is a really exciting moment for us.

“HARIBO is already a much-loved brand across Scotland, and this dedicated store will give our guests a new way to enjoy its playful products and iconic treats. It is fantastic to be the destination chosen for this milestone, and we can’t wait to see our guests enjoy the new store.”