New management team in the Austrian food industry chosen!

New management team in the Austrian food industry chosen!

Österreich - On June 12, 2025, the constituent committee meeting of the specialist association of the food and luxury food industry Austria took place. In this session, Mag. Stephan Büttner, CEO of the Agrana, was elected as the new chairman. Büttner succeeds Kr di Johann Marihart, who held the position for almost two decades and in a laudation of Federal Minister and EU Commissioner A.D. DI Dr. Franz Fischler was honored. Büttner will be chaired for the next five years and emphasizes the need for united forces to strengthen the industry in economically challenging times.

The chairman of the chairman remains in a proven composition: Kr Mag. Walter Scherb from S. Spitz GmbH and Mag. Jürgen Rauch von Rauch Fruchtsuste GmbH & Co OG were re-elected. Mag. Michaela Hysek-Unterweger by Unterweger Früchteküche GmbH and Mag. Gerald Hackl from Vivati's Holding AG are also new to the Presidium. Büttner demands that less regulation and affordable energy and labor costs are required to ensure the competitiveness of the food industry.

economic importance of the industry

The food industry is one of the largest industries in Austria with around 200 companies and around 27,400 employees. In 2024, the industry generated a production volume of 12 billion euros, with around 10 billion euros from exports to over 180 countries. An impressive feature is that around two of three foods generated in Austria are exported. This data illustrates the strong export of Austria, which achieved a record -time report of almost 14 billion euros in 2021, mainly to Germany, Italy and Hungary.

Another topic that Büttner appeals is the noticeable shortage of skilled workers, especially in technical professions such as maintenance, production and IT at Agrana. In order to counteract this defect, measures such as early contact with potential workers, participation in professional fairs and cooperation with schools and universities are crucial.

Future visions

In addition, Büttner draws attention to the bureaucratic hurdles and the high tax rate, which remains in European comparison despite the abolition of the cold progression. This makes the competitiveness of domestic industry difficult. Demographic change makes it increasingly difficult to cover the need for labor through domestic potential, which requires qualified immigration.

Finally, it can be said that the support of the specialist association is particularly important for its members in the form of information, advice and international networking. According to the [Statista Article] (https://de.statista.com/themen/3457/ LeyetzetreiDustrie-in-oesterreich/), the food industry in Austria is not only known for its turnover of around 18.72 billion euros, but also for the large number of employees who work in the various professional fields.

The developments and challenges in the food and luxury food industry are complex, and the new impulses of Büttner could be a crucial step in order to continue to position the industry successfully in the future. Further information on the company Agrana and current insights can be found in the [Interview with Büttner] (https://www.oesterreich-isst-informi.at/menschen/agrana- interview-stephan-buettner/).