Ritter Sport, known for its premium chocolate bars, has been creating quality sweets for over a hundred years. In 1912, Alfred E. Ritter, a German confectioner, wed Clara Göttle, a candy shop owner. From there, as partners in both business and life, the duo began creating high quality chocolate bars in Stuttgart, Germany. A mere seven years later, the company became so successful it moved to a larger shop and created the line AlRiKa (Alfred Ritter Cannstatt). This line produced three flavors: orange cream, raspberry cream, and rum cream. By 1930, companies in Germany were given the option to sink or swim due to the rocky economic and political climate. Ritter Sport, still producing high quality confections and trying to find its groove, chose to swim. It moved to a larger factory in Waldenbuch, where it remains today. At Waldenbuch, Ritter Sport grew into the line of delicious and premium chocolates that are now known and loved around the world today. Clara claims credit for the iconic square design of Ritter Sport bars. In 1932, she noticed that soccer fans would stop by, pick up a bar of chocolate before watching a game, and put the bar in their jacket pockets. These jackets, otherwise known as sport coats, did not have pockets equipped to carry chocolate bars without breaking them. Rather than completely redesign coats, Clara theorized that a square bar that weighed the same as a rectangular one would better stay intact in the pockets. She was right! Thus, the classic shape and namesake of Ritter Sport was born from the quintessential need to carry chocolate on the go. With a small halt from production during wartime, Ritter Sport was back to its full production of delicious chocolates by 1949. During the 1950s, Ritter Sport thrived as the German population acquired a taste for quality chocolates. At this time Ritter Sport produced six different square bars and another line that included pralines and brandy chocolates. What started as a small family business had slowly become a large family business. Nevertheless, the family values remained in place, and Alfred E. Ritter’s son, Alfred O. Ritter took over the company in 1952. Tragedy nearly struck in 1964 with the little talked about, much felt, German chocolate recession. Once again, Ritter Sport was given the option to persevere or disappear. Ritter Sport very much persevered. Soon after the chocolate recession, Ritter Sport reached a new height. In 1970, a new yogurt chocolate was released, as well as the slogan “Quality. Chocolate. Squared.” Both took Germany by storm. In 1972, Ritter Sport controlled 10% of the market. Under Alfred O.’s leadership, the decision was made to give each line its own color. The timing was fortuitous: color televisions were becoming popular and were an important advertising vehic;e.. However, it is said that the company was not enthusiastic about this change. Alfred O. stated, “I’m not crazy about the idea either. But we’re going to do it anyway.” What seemed like an unpopular decision to the staff at its conception is now a symbol of the high quality European chocolates that Ritter Sport produces. Continually focusing on being unique, functional, and high quality, Ritter Sport unveiled the snap pack wrapper. Instead of unpeeling the wrapper like an average chocolate bar, the snap pack allows the lucky person who’s eating a Ritter Sport bar to simply snap the bar in half to easily access the chocolate. Even with the large growth of the company, Ritter Sport has always been committed to its roots as a family business. Thus, it seemed only natural when Alfred T. Ritter, the third Alfred Ritter and grandson of the original, became chairman of the advisory board in 1983. He and his sister, Marli Hoppe-Ritter, had been sitting on the board since 1978. Today, still run by the same family, Ritter Sport is still producing quality chocolates in Waldenbuch, Germany. The site includes the factory as well as an art museum, a children’s workshop, and a large chocolate shop. Euro-American Brands has been importing Ritter Sport for since 1990.