It all started in Steyr, followed 30 years ago by the move to Wolfern, where 25 million euros were invested in the expansion of the site in recent years: We are talking about Weinbergmaier. How the frozen food manufacturer, behind brands such as ‘Toni Kaiser’, is benefiting from the boom in domestic tourism and defying inflation.
From Kaiserschmarrn to pancakes and semolina dumplings: 9,000 tons of frozen products were produced at Weinbergmaier in Wolfern last year.
“If you eat a Germknödel in a ski hut in Austria, there is a 90 percent chance that you are eating one from our production,” says Gerald Spitzer, who runs the food manufacturer’s company together with Christian Kübek.
Two robots are put into use
From 2020 to 2023, 25 million euros flowed into the expansion in Wolfern. No major investments are planned for this year. What is certain, however, is the commissioning of two robots that will take over the tasks in the palletizing station.
Weinbergmaier is also pleased that tourism in Austria is developing so well. “That plays into our hands,” Spitzer explains: “Of course there are guests who are more sensitive to how much they spend due to cost increases, but in principle things are certainly moving in a positive direction.” This also stimulates the production of yeast dumplings: 15 million copies are produced annually.
Countertrend back to quality
Has consumer purchasing behavior changed in the past year when it comes to frozen products? Spitzer saw a growing popularity for entry-level products, meaning lower-priced items. “But at the latest when you eat something like this, you know what you have bought and some things are put into perspective,” says the Weinbergmaier boss, who therefore notices a counter trend: back to quality.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
