As part of a pilot project, apprentices from the second year onwards in the Vienna area have the opportunity to experience the work of the Team Österreich Tafel firsthand and to contribute actively. They are already familiar with the collaboration from their everyday work in the stores: surplus, perfectly good food is donated regularly – in 2025 alone, around 1,165 tons were passed on to various social organisations, including the Team Österreich Tafel. The on-site involvement now makes visible what happens with these donations and how they support people in challenging life situations in very concrete ways.
“Social engagement is a fundamental part of our corporate responsibility. Our long-standing cooperation with the Austrian Red Cross shows how consistently we pursue this commitment. With this initiative, we give our apprentices the chance to experience this partnership personally and to see how much can be achieved through collective effort,” says Niko Karras, CEO of PENNY Austria.
“For 15 years, PENNY has been a reliable partner of the Red Cross. Across Austria, PENNY stores serve as trusted pick-up locations for the Team Österreich Tafel, and through the PENNY Family Assistance Fund, families in need have been supported via the Red Cross’s Individual Emergency Aid programme since the beginning of this partnership. By involving PENNY apprentices as volunteer helpers at the Team Österreich Tafel distribution points, our partnership is further expanded and strengthened. I would like to thank all the young people who demonstrate their social commitment through their involvement. They make an important contribution to helping people in need. And I can assure you: the experiences you gain through this initiative will benefit you throughout your professional journey,” says Michael Opriesnig, Secretary General of the Austrian Red Cross.
The goal is to establish involvement with the Team Österreich Tafel as a permanent part of the training programme for all apprentices from their second year onwards. In doing so, PENNY continues to build on its long-standing partnership with the Austrian Red Cross and expands its training offerings in the areas of social skills and community engagement in a sustainable way. The hands-on experience strengthens team cohesion, promotes a sense of responsibility, and enhances key social competencies far beyond the job profile. At the same time, the PENNY apprentices make a valuable contribution to society and gain experiences that will shape them in the long term.
PENNY currently employs a total of 83 apprentices across Austria. Additionally, around 200 young people are trained through labour-market-related supra-company apprenticeship programmes. By participating in this initiative, apprentices are given the opportunity to take on social responsibility and experience community engagement actively during their training.
