Wiesbauer satisfied with 2003 - optimistic for 2004
Annual review 2003: important decisions for the future
The takeover of the Teufner company, the successful first presentation of the original Hungarian specialty range "Prímás" at the Anuga in Cologne, the choice of the "Meister Schinken" as the Austrian Product Champion 2003 in the counter area and strong growth in exports to Germany for Wiesbauer Managing Director Komm. Rat Karl Schmiedbauer the highlights of the past financial year.
The Wiesbauer Group, with operations in Vienna, Gönyu (Hungary) and Reidling (Lower Austria), achieved total sales of EUR 2003 million in 95,9. Compared to 2002, this means a significant increase of around 5% despite a difficult market environment.
Wiesbauer Vienna - Austria: Sales increases again for the first time
Komm. Rat Karl Schmiedbauer is proud that in 2003 the company not only managed to keep sales in Austria compared to the previous year, but also to increase it again for the first time after several years of stagnation. This is all the more remarkable as more and more foreign companies are entering the Austrian market with their products. One of the reasons for Wiesbauer's success is that Wiesbauer was able to achieve above-average turnover and sales success in the fast-growing self-service sector with its slice range (pre-cut products). This positive trend goes hand in hand with the desire of retail customers to be able to offer consumers quality products in the self-service area as well.
In 2003, Wiesbauer was also able to successfully accommodate the increased efforts of retailers to upgrade the counter area with high-quality top specialties that differ significantly from the self-service area.
Two other highlights in 2003 were the selection of the "Meister-Schinken" as product champion 2003 in the counter area and the company's successful involvement in the "Wiesbauer-Tour 03", the largest and most important cycling event of the year in Austria.
Wiesbauer Vienna - Germany: strong growth
In 2003, as in previous years, there was strong growth in the export of typical Austrian product specialties to Germany. On the one hand, a number of well-known new customers were won and, on the other hand, the counter and self-service areas developed very well. Wiesbauer's Slice range has also won many new friends in Germany.
An important step for the future was taken shortly before the turn of the year 2003/2004. With the opening of the new German central sales office in Kempten, Wiesbauer now has its own sales hub in Germany, which is managed by the new German sales manager Stefan Liebe. Wiesbauer's export quota has increased significantly in the last 5 years from 15% to approx. 37%.
Wiesbauer-Dunahús (Hungary): Represented in all forms of distribution
The Hungarian food trade is about to join the EU in the middle of a strong structural change - away from small-scale to large-scale sales forms. The Hungarian subsidiary Wiesbauer-Dunahús has succeeded in being represented in all sales forms with Hungarian product specialties - small but nice. Despite a difficult market situation, Wiesbauer-Dunahús maintained its turnover and sales position in 2003.
An important step in development at Wiesbauer-Dunahús was obtaining the EU number, which is the prerequisite for export to the EU area. Since the Anuga in Cologne in October 2003, Wiesbauer Wien has been selling original Hungarian product specialties, which are produced in the Gönyu plant, under the brand name "Primás" in Germany and Austria.
Wiesbauer is the only company on the market that can offer typical Austrian and original Hungarian product specialties "from a single source".
Teufner meat specialties: high investments
The greatest course setting for the future, changes and investments within the Wiesbauer Group took place last year at the Teufner company, which was taken over at the beginning of 2003 and which now appears on the market under the name "Teufner Fleischspezialitaten - ein Wiesbauer company".
In the last 12 months, not only have the sales organizations in the catering sector of Wiesbauer Vienna and Teufner been combined, but numerous personnel, structural and above all structural adaptations and reorientations have also been carried out at the factory in Reidling (Lower Austria). A total of around EUR 1,5 million was invested in these activities.
Preview 2004: EU - Eastern expansion offers great opportunities
For Wiesbauer Austrian Sausage Specialties, this year's eastward enlargement represents a great opportunity and is therefore the focus of activities. In Germany and Austria, original Hungarian product specialties are offered under the brand name "Prímás", which are produced in the Wiesbauer-Dunahús subsidiary. In addition to increased activities on the Hungarian market, Wiesbauer has also decided to become active on the Czech market.
In recent years, Wiesbauer has developed into a recognized trading partner in Germany, Austria and Hungary with exquisite product specialties. In order to be able to market the range of top specialties even better, the product range will be noticeably streamlined in 2004.
Wiesbauer Managing Director Komm. Rat Karl Schmiedbauer expects significant increases in turnover and sales through the successful marketing of the "Primás" product range (original Hungarian products) in Germany and Austria. But also new specialties produced in Vienna, such as the "Knof'l" Ham" (garlic ham) or Anuga's top innovation "Caraway roast spread" will contribute to an increase in sales of over 5% on the Austrian market.
In Germany, a new sales structure and two new top customers, which could be won at Anuga, will contribute to the planned sales increase of around 20% being achieved. This will further increase the export rate.
Councilor Karl Schmiedbauer is also optimistic for the Hungarian subsidiary Wiesbauer-Dunahús, since purchasing power in Austria's eastern neighbor will continue to rise and consumers will therefore be in demand for higher-quality products. Of course, the export of original Hungarian product specialties ("Prímás"), which are produced in the Hungarian company, will have a very positive impact on the business success of the Hungarian subsidiary Wiesbauer-Dunahús. Here, Komm. Rat Karl Schmiedbauer expects a sales increase of more than 10%
Wiesbauer and Komm. Rat Karl Schmiedbauer have great hopes of entering the Czech market. The necessary sales structure will be set up there in 2004, with the first sales successes already being expected this year. In the Czech Republic, as in Hungary, consumers are increasingly demanding high-quality sausage and ham specialties - an optimal environment for Wiesbauer products.
By the middle of 2004, the structural adjustments and realignments at the Austrian gastro specialist Teufner Fleischspezialitaten will be completed. The construction of a new order picking system paired with a new EDP system is planned for the first half of the year. These investments, the extensive restructuring work in 2003 and an innovative new development in the area of system catering/convenience, which will be launched on the Austrian market in autumn 2004, form the basis for a planned increase in sales of around 5% in 2004.
In general, Councilor Karl Schmiedbauer is optimistic for 2004. The activities mentioned will result in the entire Wiesbauer Group growing by around 10% and exceeding the EUR 100 million mark for the first time. Also in the current year, Wiesbauer will be represented at the most important industry trade fairs, such as the Intermeat in Düsseldorf and the Foodapest in Budapest. Furthermore, as a major sponsor of Austrian sport, the Austrian cycling tour will be supported, as was the case last year. A large-scale mountaineering sweepstakes with radio advertising will be held in the autumn.
Source: Vienna [ wiesbauer ]
