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Press Release 2nd April 2025

One-way deposit: 170 sausage stands and shops rely on cooperation with BILLA and PENNY

The new deposit system for disposable plastic and metal drinks containers has been in force in Austria since 1 January 2025. Since then, every sales outlet that dispenses single-use containers with a deposit must also take them back and pay out the deposit. This has posed major challenges, especially for smaller businesses such as newsagents and sausage stands as well as vending machine operators. BILLA and PENNY were therefore the first food retailers to offer their support: For the past three months, small businesses across Austria have been able to refer to or use their nearest BILLA, BILLA PLUS stores or PENNY branches as alternative return points. So far, 170 sausage stands and shops, mainly in Vienna and Lower Austria, have taken up the offer and new ones are being added almost daily.

(from left to right): Hamed Mohseni (BILLA Sales Director), René Kachlir (Chairman of the Association of Sausage Stands and operator of the ‘Zum scharfen René’ stand in Vienna) and Nada Tosic (PENNY employee) are delighted about the new cooperation between BILLA and PENNY for the collection of deposits from small businesses.

(from left to right): Hamed Mohseni (BILLA Sales Director), René Kachlir (Chairman of the Association of Sausage Stands and operator of the ‘Zum scharfen René’ stand in Vienna) and Nada Tosic (PENNY employee) are delighted about the new cooperation between BILLA and PENNY for the collection of deposits from small businesses. / Copyright: © REWE Group / Robert Harson, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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The service provided by the two REWE retail companies is free of charge for operators of smaller sales outlets. All that is required is a signed take-back agreement with the nearest location.

Harald Mießner, BILLA Management Board member: "The new deposit system in Austria has got off to a good start and we at BILLA can see that our infrastructure is working as planned. We are pleased that not only we ourselves but also smaller businesses are benefiting from it. For the past three months, we have been working with PENNY to relieve 170 sausage stands and shops of the burden of taking back deposits by allowing their customers to return the containers to us and are open to further cooperation."

Kai Pataky, Managing Director of PENNY: "Since the introduction of the one-way deposit, our dense network of stores - especially in eastern Austria - has not only benefited customers, but also entrepreneurs from smaller businesses. The cooperation with them to return deposits is an impressive example of cohesion in the sector. We are happy to help out, as we have the appropriate reverse vending machines and storage capacity."

René Kachlir, Chairman of the Association of Sausage Stands and operator of the ‘Zum scharfen René’ stand in Vienna: "After three months of the one-way deposit in Austria, we can draw a positive balance thanks to the help of BILLA and PENNY. We were able to cushion the challenges we faced at the beginning thanks to this agreement. In Vienna in particular, the nearest BILLA or PENNY store is usually just around the corner and the deposit containers can be returned quickly."