TH Köln Students Visit HARIBO's Highly Automated Logistics Hub
As part of the International Supply Chain Management course led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Fries, around 25 students from the Bachelor's and Master's International Business programmes at TH Köln recently had the opportunity to gain exclusive insights into one of Europe's most advanced supply chain operations during an excursion to HARIBO's corporate headquarters in Grafschaft.
The visit began with a guided tour of HARIBO's state-of-the-art logistics centre, which has been in operation since 2017. The logistics operations are managed by the logistics service provider FIEGE and supported by cutting-edge warehouse automation technology from SSI Schäfer. Students were particularly impressed by the highly automated high-bay warehouse, seamless material flows and remarkable operational efficiency. The only area where larger teams of employees were visible was the co-packing section, where promotional displays and retailer-specific product assortments are assembled—demonstrating that even highly automated supply chains continue to rely on human expertise for value-adding activities.
Following the warehouse tour, HARIBO's management welcomed the group to the company's corporate headquarters and introduced the strategic development of the Grafschaft campus, which today combines HARIBO's global headquarters, a major production facility, and the largest distribution centre within the HARIBO Group. Students also gained valuable insights into HARIBO's continued international growth, particularly in the US and European markets.
The excursion concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where students discussed two of today's most important business topics: the implementation of Generative AI and sustainability within global supply chains. The open discussion provided valuable perspectives on how a global consumer goods company is preparing for the future.
A sincere thank you to the entire Haribo team represented by Kai Schmitz (Director Demand Planning DACH) and Andreas Moehnen (Head of Logistics Warehouse), for their warm hospitality and for sharing valuable insights into one of Europe's leading consumer goods supply chains. Experiences like these exemplify TH Köln's understanding of transformative academic practice (Transformative Wissenschaftspraxis): creating meaningful learning experiences where research, education, and close collaboration with industry come together to prepare students for the challenges of an increasingly digital and sustainable world.
July 2026