Austria's furniture stores: Enjoyable break between shopping and bargains

Austria's furniture stores: Enjoyable break between shopping and bargains

The trend in commercial catering has increased in recent years. In large furniture stores, the delicious fragrance of freshly prepared dishes often blows through the corridors, and many customers take the opportunity to take a meal while shopping. This applies particularly to Austrian retailers such as Ikea, Interspar and Lutz, who have managed to make their restaurants popular.

In Austria, people spend on average around 33 euros per meal, including drinks. Classic dishes such as the XXXL schnitzel, which you can get at Lutz for around 12.90 euros, and Köttbullar at Ikea, which are available for 6.99 euros, are particularly popular. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are also becoming increasingly popular. According to Michaela Kaspar from Interspar, who says: “Vegan or vegetarian menus are on the rise,” the food culture in retail restaurants appears to be diversifying.

Growing trend in commercial catering

Rainer Will, managing director of the trade association, emphasizes the increasing interest of the Austrians in gastronomic offers in trade transactions. Every second one visits the restaurants of retailers several times a year, and every third eats there at least once a month. It is clear that people appreciate the combination of shopping and gastronomy.

An interesting development that the operators of the trade restaurants have also recognized. For example, XXXLutz has 47 own restaurants and 16 Mömax restaurants in Austria, which are intended to make the time more pleasant in the furniture stores. According to Thomas Saliger, spokesman for XXXLutz, these restaurants have now become full -fledged gastronomic facilities and are very popular: "They are an unenomeable factor."

Sustainability, as Kit Wai Kan, Food Manager at IKEA Austria, is also explained. Ikea has the goal of offering 50 percent plant options in their dishes in the coming year. This is reflected in a increased range of vegan and vegetarian menus that are not only healthy, but also inexpensive.

The social aspects are also not to be underestimated. The trade restaurants act as meeting points in which people exchange ideas while shopping. One could say that they are the modern equivalent of a village inn that creates a room for social interaction in the middle of home accessories and furniture.

In Germany, a similar trend can be observed, with a remarkable sales growth of almost 16 percent in the catering area in 2023, which shows that this form of gastronomy is also becoming more important beyond the Austrian border.

The growing interest in commercial catering is clear and unmistakable. In the next few years we can expect even more attractive and diverse offers from these gastronomic facilities, which will surely enrich the shopping experience in the furniture stores. More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on www.kleinezeitung.at.