Local ham manufacturer Berger: Best quality in 60 different variations 125 years of tradition and experience guarantee consistency Local ham manufacturer embraces innovations Berger as economic factor: The entire region benefits Flagship project regional.optimal.: Meat and ham from the region – guaranteed GMO-free Sustainability as a core value Lower Austrian family business Fleischwaren Berger Gesellschaft m.b.H. & Co KG is the local ham manufacturer and looks back on a long tradition: For 125 years, Berger has combined experience with innovation, offering high-quality and exclusive ham and cold meat specialities of regional origin. The diverse product range comprises 60 different ham variations. Tailored to the requests of the consumers, the family business, which is managed in the forth generation by Mag. Rudolf Berger jointly with his wife Claudia Berger and his sister Mag. Gaby Kritsch, creates customized specialities for everyone's taste. The experience and the deep roots in the region can be sensed and tasted in the specialities from Berger. "Future requires roots" is the company's practised motto. "Thanks to our long experience, we can implement innovative ideas quickly and flexibly," Mag. Rudolf Berger, Managing Director of Fleischwaren Berger, explains. On many occasions, ham specialities from Berger have received awards, convincing experts and gourmets alike. The 125-year-old company has enshrined sustainability in its core values: The promotion of the region and the use of sustainable energy sources has been awarded and recognized by several environmental awards. The local ham specialist Berger distinguishes itself from the competition by the practised self-conception as specialist for ham products: Tailored to the requests and needs of the consumers, the experts continuously create new specialities. The company's innovativeness thus guarantees variety for all ham lovers. "We quickly and efficiently implement requests in new products. That is our trademark. You request and we produce", as Mag. Gaby Kritsch, head of sales at Berger, explains. "A traditional company as ours must naturally also ensure the necessary transparency. We provide detailed information on the origin of the raw materials and on the 1 nutritional values directly on our packaging – consumers can see at a glance what Berger products contain." Seasonal ham, cold meat specialities and fresh meat from Berger Berger is specialized in the production and the sale of fresh meat, cold meat and ham products. The product range of the ham manufacturer from Lower Austria boasts a diverse and multiple-award winning ham and cold meat range. 45 different variants of high quality, hand-laid cooked ham plus a special seasonal ham concept distinguish Berger from the competition. Ham and sausage specialities as well as fresh meat produced according to the sustainable concept regional.optimal., which is guaranteed to be free of genetically engineered organisms and supports farmers in the region, make the product range perfect. Berger has also made a name for itself as retail label producer: The Lower Austrian company produces additional 15 ham specialities for retail labels and the catering business. The ham maker in figures: Berger is the "King of Ham" Every year, 9,900 tons of ham – which is equivalent to the weight of 21 jumbo jets –, 8,800 tons of cold meat products and 1,000 tons of smoked meat products and aspics as well as 6.100 tons of fresh meat are sold. The Berger Traditions-Beinschinken is the top seller among consumers who buy at the counter, while the reduced-fat Berger Wellness-Schinken is the most popular self-service product from Berger among Austrians. Austria loves variety: There is an extremely great demand for specialities such as the Zitronen-Pfeffer-Schinken, Kürbis-Schinken and Spargel- Schinken, which are only available in the respective season. In total, more than 21 million pre-packed products of the King of Ham are sold on self-service shelves at local supermarkets year after year. Pioneering role in the market: Showcase company on a course of innovation Thanks to numerous innovations and developments, Berger has made a name for itself as pioneer in the industry. Berger was the first butchery to include nutritional information, such as fat content and calories, on Berger Schinken products. At the same time, the family business from Lower Austria – responding to the Austrian consumer behaviour – developed a fat-reduced and light product range. With the regional.optimal. project, Berger has become a pioneer in the production of regional pork specialities guaranteed to be free of genetically engineered organisms. Stay slim with Berger Wellness-Schinken Meat is an essential source of protein as part of a balanced diet. Cooked ham from Berger contains 17-20% high-quality protein, a low fat content of between two and nine percent, as well as vitamin B – important for the human nervous system. On average, 100 grams of Berger Schinken only contain 90 - 140 kilocalories. "More and more people are concerned about their weight, thus we 2 decided to inform our consumers about the nutritional value and the fat content of our products." Quality is the cornerstone of success The highest demand on quality is the cornerstone of Berger's success. From the raw material, receipt of goods and production through to the dispatch of the goods, Berger products undergo strict quality controls and processes. Certifications, such as the AMA seal of quality or the IFS (International Featured Standards) confirm compliance with the strict criteria. The stringent quality approach is also reflected in numerous awards that Berger Schinken receives year after year. Berger as economic factor: The entire greater Sieghartskirchen region benefits The Berger family business is the second largest employer in the Tulln district. At present, the company employs 450 people – 380 of which at the company headquarters in Sieghartskirchen. Close cooperations with regional farmers under the regional.optimal. concept not only create additional jobs but also ensure value creation from and for Lower Austria. Apprentices have the opportunity to complete their training in a traditional, stable and goal-oriented family business. Local food retailers trust Berger In 2014, the company, which is managed by the Berger family in the forth generation, produced a total turnover of 127 million Euros, 90 % of which in Austria and 10 % in export. Food retail trade (LEH) is the most important sales channel: 68 percent of the turnover are generated in it, while cash & carry and the catering industry account for one quarter. About seven percent of the turnover is sold at the company's four own stores and three cash & carry markets. From retail trade to retirement homes Most of the specialities from Berger can be purchased at food retail stores. Aside from listings at Billa, Merkur, ADEG, Spar, Interspar, Eurospar, Unimarkt, Nah&Frisch, Zielpunkt, M-Preis and Meinl, Berger products are available at wholesale markets including Metro, Pfeiffer, Wedl, AGM and Eurogast. Chefs of restaurant chains trust the great skills of Berger. Customers can always expect perfect packaging and consignment and targeted fulfilment of special specifications: Tailored to the requests, Berger produces "customized" schnitzels in 120-gram portions, for example. Long-standing customers of Berger include the KAV – the Federation of Vienna Hospitals –, the AKH and numerous retirement homes of Vienna municipality and Caritas. 3 The flagship project: regional.optimal. With the "regional.optimal" concept, Berger has become a pioneer and innovator in guaranteed GMO-free meat products manufacture using traditional methods. As early as 2009, Berger took the first step towards regional and sustainable meat and ham production. In close cooperation with experts, animal feed was developed that is guaranteed to be free of genetically engineered soy protein from overseas. The feed used for pig fattening is grown regionally in Austria and the Danube area. Regional partner farmers use only this feed for pig fattening. Value creation from the region for the region In addition, the piglets of regional.optimal. farmers were born and grown in Austria. Berger chooses its supplier farms according to strict regulations: Only breeders whose farms are situated in the direct vicinity (max. 50 km) of Sieghartskirchen are accepted. Short transport distances and regional value creation are thus guaranteed. The compliance with strict criteria and quality requirements is ensured through regular controls by the independent and certified control centre agroVetGmbh. The regional.optimal. offer includes ham specialities, sausages and fresh meat of a special quality. Various regional.optimal. specialities from Berger are available in retail food stores: "Knuspriger Kümmel- Braten", "Delikater Bauern-Schinken" and "Saftige Heurigen-Schulter". Consumers can find the "Wiesenkräuter- Schinken" from regional.optimal. at counters. Wachauer-Frankfurter, Wachauer Debreziner and Wachauer Knacker complement the regional.optimal. product range available in stores. The regional.optimal. initiative proves Berger's concern for acting sustainably. "Including the Ministry of Food has recognized our initiative as a significant contribution to sustainability", as Mag. Berger proudly states. Berger offers the "most regional sausages" in Austria In response to the growing demand for regional specialities, Berger has extended the regional.optimal. product range: In June 2014,