• Founded: 1899

• Founder: Joseph (Josef) Hipp

• Headquarters: Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria, Germany

• Industry: Baby food and infant nutrition

• Ownership: Family-owned (fourth generation)

• Products: Infant formula, baby food, cereals, snacks, drinks, baby care, and maternal nutrition

• Markets: Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and many other international markets

• Core Focus: Organic nutrition and sustainable agriculture [1]

Origins (1899)

HiPP traces its origins to German baker Joseph Hipp, whose wife struggled to breastfeed their twins. To help nourish them, Joseph created a mixture of finely ground rusk (twice-baked bread) and milk. The mixture proved successful, and demand quickly spread beyond his family.

This homemade baby food became the company’s first commercial product, known as J. HiPP’s Rusk Flour, marking the birth of the HiPP brand. [1]

Expansion

Joseph’s son Georg Hipp expanded the business during the early 20th century, eventually establishing a larger production company in 1932.

During the late 1950s, HiPP introduced one of Germany’s first commercially produced baby meals in jars. The company shifted from metal tins to glass jars in 1959, setting a new standard for convenience and food safety. [1]

Organic Farming Pioneer

A defining milestone came in 1956, when Georg Hipp embraced organic farming after learning from Swiss agricultural pioneer Dr. Hans Müller.

Instead of relying on synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, HiPP began cultivating fruits and vegetables using organic methods. This decision made the company one of the earliest large-scale advocates of organic agriculture in Europe. [2]

Leadership

Following Georg Hipp’s death, Claus Hipp assumed leadership in 1967 and became one of Europe’s strongest advocates for sustainable farming.

Today, the company is managed by the fourth generation of the Hipp family, continuing its long-standing family ownership and environmental focus. [3]

HiPP offers a wide range of products for babies, toddlers, and parents, including:

• Infant milk formulas

• Follow-on formulas

• Organic baby meals

• Fruit and vegetable purees

• Baby cereals

• Porridges

• Healthy snacks

• Fruit juices

• Toddler meals

• Baby skincare products

• Pregnancy and maternal nutrition products

Many products carry both the EU Organic certification and HiPP’s own quality seal, which often exceeds legal organic requirements. [3]

HiPP’s philosophy centers on producing food that is:

• Made from certified organic ingredients

• Free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

• Produced with strict controls on pesticide residues

• Environmentally sustainable

• Designed to meet infants’ nutritional needs

The company states that its internal quality standards are frequently stricter than those required under European Union organic regulations. [3]

Sustainability is a major part of HiPP’s corporate identity.

Key initiatives include:

• Supporting thousands of contract organic farmers

• Protecting biodiversity

• Reducing water and energy consumption

• Recycling the vast majority of production waste

• Operating carbon-neutral production sites in several European countries

• Maintaining certified environmental management systems

These efforts have made HiPP one of Europe’s most recognized sustainable food manufacturers. [1]

HiPP products are sold across much of Europe and in numerous international markets, including parts of:

• Germany

• Austria

• Switzerland

• United Kingdom

• Ireland

• Poland

• Czech Republic

• Slovakia

• Hungary

• Croatia

• China

• Singapore

• Philippines

• Middle East

Product availability varies according to local regulations and nutritional standards. [2]

HiPP has built a reputation for:

• Organic ingredients

• High food safety standards

• Sustainable farming

• Premium-quality infant nutrition

• Strong consumer trust in Europe

The company’s advertising has long featured the slogan associated with Claus Hipp: “I vouch for this with my name,” emphasizing personal accountability for product quality. [3]

HiPP operates extensive quality control procedures throughout its supply chain, from farm selection to finished products. Raw materials undergo rigorous testing for contaminants and pesticide residues before being used in production. [3]

Like other food manufacturers, HiPP has occasionally issued product recalls. In 2026, for example, the company recalled certain baby food jars after authorities determined that a small number had been deliberately tampered with after leaving the production facility as part of an extortion attempt. The company stated that the incident was not caused by its manufacturing process. [4]

More than 125 years after its founding, HiPP remains one of the world’s leading organic baby food brands. Its combination of family ownership, early adoption of organic farming, emphasis on sustainability, and rigorous quality standards has made it a prominent name in infant nutrition and one of Europe’s most established organic food companies. [1]

1. History

2. Why we are pioneers in organic farming ► HiPP Organic | HiPP Organic

3. History | HiPP

4. Poisoned baby food was part of attempted extortion, German producer says