Manufacture of nougat, marzipan, chocolate and pralines for retail and business customers
Viba sweets GmbH
Floh-Seligenthal · Woringen · Schmalkalden · Dresden · ErfurtNew on Amplifa
About Viba sweets
Viba sweets GmbH is a confectionery manufacturer based in Floh-Seligenthal in Thuringia. The company produces nougat, marzipan, indulgence bars, dragees, sugar pillows, chocolate, pralines and nougat crèmes according to its own recipes and distributes them via food retail, its own chain of stores, an online shop and a business customer service for customized gifts. Production combines modern manufacturing methods with traditional craftsmanship; since 2025, an additional production facility has been available in Floh-Seligenthal. At the Woringen site in the Allgäu region, the subsidiary Confiserie Heilemann produces confectionery; the company was acquired in 2016 and in 2019 became the first German industrial manufacturer to process ruby chocolate. With around 450 employees and a group revenue of about 50 million euros (as of 2016), Viba is one of the established nougat manufacturers in Germany. In addition to production, the company operates experience worlds with manufactory courses in Schmalkalden, Erfurt and Dresden as well as gastronomy locations.
- Site
- Floh-Seligenthal
- Processes
- Customization of gifts (from small quantities), Compilation of customized gifts, Greeting card enclosure, Standing orders / interim storage, Shipping of individual gifts to multiple addresses, Gift cards, Gastronomy/café, Hands-on manufactory courses
- Materials
- Nougat, Marzipan, Chocolate, Pralines, Nougat Crèmes
- Certificates
- Certified cocoa (100%), GMO-free soy, IATF 16949, ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1893
- Employees
- 450
- Industries
- Confectionery manufacturing, Food wholesale/B2B gifts, Experience/gastronomy, Retail (stores)
- 01
Raw material selection (e.g. 100% certified cocoa, GMO-free soy)
- 02
Roasting of the nuts
- 03
Processing into nougat, marzipan, chocolate and pralines
- 04
Packaging
- 05
Distribution via retail, stores, online shop and business customer service
Products & Ingredients
Nougat
Core product with 70% market share in Germany (2018), basis for bars, balls and crèmes.
Marzipan
Traditional product since 1920, including marzipan potatoes in the range.
Chocolate
Fine milk, dark and white chocolates, and since 2019 ruby chocolate at Heilemann.
Pralines
Manufactory pralines and mini pralines for retail and business customers.
Nougat Crèmes
Awarded the Sweetie Award in 2022.
Locations
Floh-Seligenthal
DEHeadquarters and production
- Materials
- Nougat, chocolate, pralines
- Modern roasting methods
- Production facility (opened 2025)
Woringen
DEProduction site of Confiserie Heilemann
- Materials
- Pralines, ruby chocolate
- Biogas district heating
Schmalkalden
DEViba Nougat World (experience world and manufactory courses)
Dresden
DEViba Experience Confiserie & Café
Erfurt
DEViba Nougat World with manufactory courses
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Quality & Sustainability
Viba relies on 100% certified cocoa and GMO-free soy. Sustainability measures include LED lighting at all production sites, biogas district heating in Woringen, a CO2-reduced roasting process in Floh-Seligenthal and the reduction of plastic in packaging.
| Evidence | Floh-Seligenthal | Woringen |
|---|---|---|
| Certified cocoa (100%) | ||
| GMO-free soy | ||
| IATF 16949 | ||
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1893
Founding of a coffee house in Schmalkalden by Willi Viebahn and his sister Anna Reim
- 1920
Start of nougat and marzipan production, distribution nationwide
- 1927
Own factory built
- 1935
350 employees, 500 products
- 1958
Partial nationalization
- 1972
Full nationalization as VEB Nougat and Marzipan Factory “Nouma” Schmalkalden
- 1989
Renamed back to Viebahn Süßwaren
- 1992
Privatization through sale
- 1996
Renamed to Viba Süßwaren GmbH
- 1997
Relocation from Schmalkalden to Floh-Seligenthal
- 2002
Relaunch as Viba sweets GmbH
- 2004
Expansion of the store network (around 44 stores, as of 2015)
- 2012
Opening of the Viba Nougat World in Schmalkalden
- 2013
Opening of the Viba Experience Confiserie & Café in Dresden
- 2014
Co-branding (nougat milk, nougat ice cream)
- 2016
Acquisition of Confiserie Heilemann in Woringen; group revenue 50 Mio. €, 450 employees
- 2019
Subsidiary Heilemann becomes the first German industrial manufacturer to process ruby chocolate
- 2022
Ruby chocolate salmon bunny; Sweetie Award for nougat crèmes
- 2024
Acquisition of the majority of the stores of Arko, Eilles and Hussel as of May 1
- 2025
Opening of an additional production facility in Floh-Seligenthal