Press Release 26th January 2023

BILLA offers jobs to Habibi & Hawara employees after insolvency

Just recently, the insolvency of some Habibi & Hawara locations was announced. However, the restaurant at Rochusmarkt and the catering business are to remain open. Around 60 fellow citizens with a migration background, who were able to gain a foothold in the Austrian labour market thanks to Habibi & Hawara and were trained as skilled workers, are now affected by a job loss. In the spirit of social cohesion and in coordination with the Vienna Chamber of Labour and the Insolvency Protection Association for Employees, BILLA would like to offer them all a job in the company.

Two men in suits smiling and holding plates with dessert at a restaurant event. A sign in the background reads "Habibi & Hawara." Tables and yellow seating are visible.

Harald Mießner (BILLA Board Member Sales) and Martin Rohla (Habibi & Hawara Founder) / Copyright: BILLA / Christian Dusek, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

Download

At a glance

Employment possible immediately: Employees affected by insolvency are offered jobs in Viennese BILLA and BILLA PLUS markets as well as in BILLA market kitchens.
Close cooperation continues: Habibi & Hawara products still available at BILLA and BILLA PLUS stores

"The insolvency of the Habibi & Hawara stores concerns us at BILLA a lot, because we have been working together very closely and successfully for years within the framework of various projects. We would like to offer our support in a very uncomplicated way and are happy to accept the employees affected by the insolvency into our BILLA and BILLA PLUS teams in Vienna - in true Habibi & Hawara style, we want to open up new perspectives for them," says Harald Mießner, BILLA Sales Director.

Martin Rohla, founder of Habibi & Hawara says: "In the last few days I was able to support the management in finding a good solution for the employees. It is in difficult times that true friends show themselves. How much our partners at BILLA stand by Habibi & Hawara is proven by a really special action: All Habibi & Hawara employees who lose their jobs due to the insolvencies immediately receive a concrete job offer at BILLA or BILLA PLUS."

Habibi & Hawara products still available at BILLA and BILLA PLUS

In selected BILLA and BILLA PLUS markets, oriental ready-to-eat specialities of the Viennese integration and training programme for fellow citizens with a refugee and migration background have been available for selection since summer 2020. Based on this successful cooperation, the partnership was not only expanded last year to include new products in the markets, but also selected BILLA market kitchens have been spoiling customers with Habibi & Hawara delicacies since 2022. The products will remain in the range - a further product expansion is planned for this year.