Press Release 10th March 2026

Digital platforms in all BILLA and BILLA PLUS stores now provide customers with information on how to shop safely

BILLA sets another milestone in customer safety: from now on, customers in all BILLA and BILLA PLUS stores will be informed about current safety risks via digital information folders. The folders will be displayed on various digital platforms in the stores. The content covers a wide range of topics, from information about common types of fraud to seasonal safety tips. The aim of the measure is to raise awareness in an accessible and everyday manner, thereby making an important contribution to the prevention of criminal acts and the protection of the population. This makes BILLA the first food retailer in Austria to provide such a comprehensive and widespread range of tips directly in its stores for its customers.

Five people stand indoors next to a digital police sign in a store, with plants and sale signs visible in the background. They are smiling and dressed in business and police attire.

(from left to right): Marcus Schober (Head of REWE Corporate Security), Robert Nagele (BILLA Executive Board), Peter Kaderabek (REWE Security Manager Austria), Cornelia Sucher (Member of the State Parliament) and Michael Takacs (Federal Police Director) welcome the joint security initiative by BILLA and the police. / Copyright: © BILLA AG / Robert Harson, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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At a glance

Joint initiative by BILLA and the police focuses on digital information folders in all stores to raise awareness of security risks and provide tips on prevention
Successful launch took place in the most innovative BILLA store in Pilotengasse together with BILLA CEO Robert Nagele, Federal Police Director Michael Takacs and Member of the State Parliament Cornelia Sucher
Austria-wide rollout follows successful pilot project, which was first tested in Carinthian stores in 2024 in cooperation with the Völkermarkt district police headquarters
Initiative was awarded second place in the KSÖ Security Prize in the category ‘Prize for Active Security Partnership’ in 2025
Long-standing partnership between BILLA, REWE Group and police based on successful initiatives for greater protection and trust among the population

Robert Nagele, BILLA CEO: "Safety is a basic need – and we want to give our customers and employees the best possible feeling of security. I am therefore particularly pleased that we are now rolling out this pioneering project throughout Austria. Close and trusting cooperation with the police has been an integral part of our awareness-raising work for many years. Formats such as “Gemeinsam Sicher” (Safe Together), “Coffee with Cops” and joint training sessions show how powerful partnership can be when it comes to people's well-being. The fact that we are the first food retailer in Austria to offer comprehensive safety information is a big step and an important signal for the domestic retail sector."

Federal Police Director Michael Takacs: ‘Safety work is one of the central tasks of the police. That is why the long-standing partnership with BILLA is particularly important. Projects like this illustrate how effectively digital information screens in stores can be used to strengthen the subjective feeling of safety and make risks transparent. This consistently puts the protection of the population at the centre of attention. The result is sustainable added value for safety and trust in our society.’

Member of the State Parliament Cornelia Sucher: "Measures to improve safety and raise awareness are essential for the city of Vienna and its entire population. It is particularly great that the initiative provides people with easily accessible information while they are shopping. The partnership between BILLA and the police demonstrates how effective cooperation can be when it is supported by both sides. I am delighted to witness the official rollout at this innovative BILLA store in Vienna-Donaustadt."

The official launch of the Austria-wide rollout took place in Pilotengasse in Vienna's 22nd district with BILLA CEO Robert Nagele, Federal Police Director Michael Takacs and Member of the Provincial Parliament Cornelia Sucher. The store is one of the most modern and innovative locations in Austria.

From pilot project in Carinthia to Austria-wide implementation

The Austria-wide rollout of the initiative stems from a pilot project in Carinthia, which was initiated by REWE Corporate Security and the Völkermarkt District Police Command. In 2024, the digital awareness campaign was tested in all Carinthian BILLA and BILLA PLUS stores. Due to its outstanding implementation, the initiative was awarded second place in the ‘Prize for Active Safety Partnership’ category at the KSÖ Safety Awards 2025, presented by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

BILLA and the police: a long-standing safety partnership

The Austria-wide implementation of the initiative is based on a long-standing and established cooperation between BILLA, the REWE Group and the Austrian provincial police departments to ensure a safe working and shopping environment for customers and employees. Part of the successful cooperation measures is ‘Gemeinsam Sicher’ (Safe Together), an initiative to strengthen trust among the population, which also includes digital information folders in the stores. The ‘Coffee with Cops’ campaign supports dialogue between the police and the civilian population, using BILLA and BILLA PLUS stores as a platform. In addition, the food retailer regularly organises training courses in cooperation with the police to teach violence prevention, correct behaviour in dangerous situations and awareness of safety-related situations.