Press Release 15th March 2024

From the idea to the store shelf: BILLA supports start-ups & farmers and their product innovations

A graphic design featuring the text "Start-Up Ticket" with five stars underneath. Below, there are logos for Billa, Bipa, Erste Sparkasse, and Clever Clover. The background is a silver and gray gradient with decorative corners.

Together with Erste Bank und Sparkassen and Clever Clover, BILLA is inviting farmers and start-ups to an exclusive Austria-wide series of meet-up events as part of the Start-up Ticket. / Copyright: © BILLA, Abdruck zu PR-Zwecken honorarfrei., Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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At a glance

BILLA promotes young entrepreneurship and invites you to the exclusive Meet up event series in all federal states again this year
Start is on 20 March in Neusiedl am See - register now free of charge at: sparkasse.at/meetups
As part of the format, farmers and young start-ups receive valuable advice from top experts in the industry for the further development of their products
Successful in retail: restaurateur Bärenwirt from Hermagor (Carinthia) and the Fleischhacker family from Illmitz (Burgenland) have realised the step into the markets after their participation

BILLA offers its customers a wide range of products of reliable quality that includes special innovations and current food trends. This is why the food retailer is always on the lookout for exciting new products and creative entrepreneurs in all federal states who have the courage to develop unprecedented products. For this reason, BILLA organises various formats to provide a stage for unique product ideas and the creative minds behind them. Together with Erste Bank und Sparkassen and Clever Clover, BILLA is inviting farmers and start-ups to an exclusive Austria-wide series of meet-up events as part of the Start-up Ticket. The event kicks off on 20 March 2024 at the BILLA PLUS store in Neusiedl am See, where participants can get free advice. Be there and register at : sparkasse.at/meetups

Markus Kuntke, Head of Trend and Innovation at REWE International AG: "As the BILLA family, it is important to us to support local products and entrepreneurs in order to promote the pioneering spirit in Austria. That's why we are happy to share our knowledge and experience from the industry. We achieve this above all with formats such as the Meet up event series. Here, farmers can gain valuable insights free of charge in order to further develop their idea or new product with the opportunity to gain a foothold in the trade and make valuable contacts."

Austria-wide meet-ups with free advice from top experts

Farmers have the opportunity to take part in this year's series of meet-up events organised by Erste Bank und Sparkassen, REWE Group and Clever Clover from 20 March 2024 to 22 May 2024 to drive their product idea forward. At the nine events - one per federal state - participants can get free coaching from experienced experts in the form of speed dating sessions. Birgit Polster, start-up finance expert at GründerCenter Erste Bank, Heinrich Prokop, CEO of Clever Clover, and Markus Kuntke will advise participants in one-on-one meetings and provide valuable tips for the further development of their products. The first meet-up will take place next Wednesday, 20 March at 3 pm at the BILLA PLUS store in Neusiedl am See.

Innovative liquid salt sprays against wasting resources

A prime example of a successful product innovation that made its way onto the market as part of the Meet up event series is that of the Bärenwirt restaurateur from Hermagor in Carinthia In 2023, Manuel Ressi took part in the Meet up in Graz and presented his idea of producing liquid salt from leftover lemon halves to the experts. Inspired by the sustainable approach, Markus Kuntke and his team supported the restaurateur in taking the step into the retail sector. The salt lemon spray, as well as the salt pepperoni and salt wasabi varieties, are available in numerous BILLA and BILLA PLUS stores.

Focus on complete processing: the organic salt ox "von der Hoad"

The Fleischhacker family from Illmitz in Burgenland has dedicated itself to rearing Seewinkler organic cattle. A particular speciality of the "von der Hoad" organic beef range is the organic salt ox. This gets its name from the special features of the pastures of the Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park with its many salt pans, where it is reared in a time- and feed-intensive manner. The Fleischhacker family also presented their speciality at one of the meet-ups. This is how the high-quality organic salted ox meat found its way into the BILLA Corso in the Ringstraßen Galerien, the BILLA Corso Herrnhuterhaus and the BILLA Corso am Hohen Markt. Every fortnight, an ox is fully processed and the meat is delivered to the three locations. Since the start of the collaboration at the end of 2022, 200 oxen have already been processed in their entirety.