Capital: € 1 billion
Age: 81
Born: 10/22/1938
Country of origin: Germany
Source of wealth: Entrepreneurs in the food industry
Last updated: 2024

Short introduction

Claus Hipp was born in Munich on October 22, 1938 under the name Nikolaus Joseph Hipp.

After graduating from Ludwigsgymnasium, he studied law at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. His father Georg founded a baby food manufacturing company in 1932, in which Claus Hipp received his doctorate in law in 1964. Because the father died in 1967, he became managing director of the Hipp company in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm at the age of 29. Hipp is now a leader in the manufacture of baby food.

Early life

As the second of 7 children, Claus Hipp grew up in a middle-class family in Munich.

He attended high school, which he left in 1959 when he graduated from high school. It became apparent early on that he had a variety of interests. On the one hand, he learned the Russian language, but at the same time received lessons in playing an oboe. During his training at the art school in Munich he became a master student of Heinrich Kropp. He actually wanted to be an artist. Nevertheless, he began studying law in 1960 and did his doctorate in law.

In 1932 the father Georg founded the Hipp company, which was the first to manufacture baby porridge. So the son Claus had early insights into the industry, which was to determine his later professional life. In 1956, the small family business became a company for the industrial production of baby food. As early as 1959, canning was replaced by the Hipp glass, which is still known today and is much more hygienic. The bond with nature and the desire for sustainability has been rooted in the Hipp family for years and has resulted in the raw materials for production now coming from ecologically managed soils. This laid the foundation for the values of the Hipp company.

Career

Georg Hipp died in 1967 and his son Claus took over the management. In the spirit of the father, he lives on the ecological idea and travels to the surrounding farmers to win them over for organic farming. The plan works and the number of organically cultivated areas grows. Today there are more than 8,000 organic farmers who are contractually bound to the Hipp company. The Hipp company processes the world’s largest amount of organically produced raw materials. The level of awareness has grown beyond the German borders and the name Hipp stands primarily in Europe and China for high-quality, natural organic baby food. The range now consists of approx. 400 products and is constantly being expanded. This is how production companies in Germany, Croatia, Austria, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Hungary came into being. Because the environment and nature conservation play a very important role for Claus Hipp, he introduced an environmental management system in 1995 that is based on the EMAS guidelines.

The result is a recycling rate of 97% of all waste generated during production. The locations Germany, Austria, Hungary and Croatia can be operated neutrally for the climate. Water and energy consumption could be reduced by more than half. Hipp also has a pioneering position in environmental technology. Claus Hipp has brought one of the best known and most successful German food manufacturers with his business idea. He is called the bio pioneer.

Career highlights

Claus Hipp has no shortage of awards. For his services to the environment he received many awards, among others the Cross of Merit 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1995 or 2016, the only German company, the “European Business Award for the Environment”, awarded by the European Commission. In 2017 he was awarded the “Ökologia” prize by the Rhineland-Palatinate Environment Minister for his exemplary attitude and commitment to ecology. The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Wilfried Kretschmann honored him with the German CSR Award for his life’s work in 2018.

Famous quotes

The quote from Claus Hipp is known everywhere in television advertising “In the best organic quality.

That’s what I stand for with my name. ” Hereby he creates trust in his products from organic farming and personally stands behind his company.

He also says: “The bike saves time and trains health!”. Claus Hipp does not need status symbols. During his time as President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce he went to the state reception on his bike.

Success tips

“The best of nature. The best for nature ”. This is the Hipp recipe for success.

Only flawless raw materials from ecological cultivation are processed.

In addition, there is sustainability in dealing with nature, the economy and employees.

The protection of natural resources and the careful handling of the environment secure our future. Respectful and fair dealings with suppliers and customers, as well as considerate and social cooperation with the workforce are an integral part of the success of Hipp. Claus Hipp is a devout Catholic whose motto is that decency is always more successful in the long run than ruthlessness. He has remained down to earth and still lives on the farm in Pfaffenhofen, where he grew up.

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