The Viennese family business Herzog Großhandels GmbH recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. From the fundamental structural change in the Austrian fruit trade to the pandemic and the current inflation: the company, located at the local wholesale green market, looks back on two eventful decades, as co-founder and current managing director Thomas Herzog told us on inquiry.
On October 23, 2024, the team of Herzog Großhandels GmbH, with managing director Thomas Herzog (center), was honored by the Viennese Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. Daughter Melanie and son Manuel are now also working in the company. Due to the central distribution function and the proximity to the city center, the location at the Vienna Wholesale Market continues to be important and advantageous.
The origins of the present-day company go back to the Viktor Adler market in Vienna's 10th district in the 1990s, Herzog recalls. "After a few successful years in business, my brother and I decided to purchase a few stands at the Wiener Großgrünmarkt, which led to the founding of Herzog Großhandels GmbH in 2004. The main motivation for this was not only to serve the retail customers, but also to supply the retail chains and cash & carry markets. Initially, we primarily focused on importing fruit and vegetables from the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. The loads were transported by the truckload and sold to local colleagues. However, in the wake of EU accession, there was a fundamental structural change in that the customs clearance costs of shipments in other EU countries were eliminated. Many production companies began with mixed pallets and partial loads to Vienna, which in turn greatly reduced our work as importers."
In the years that followed, Herzog Großhandels GmbH gradually specialized in products for the hotel and gastronomy sectors, which in turn are distributed through various partners. However, this business area has also suffered greatly during the pandemic. Herzog: "Unfortunately, the coronavirus crisis has hit us hard. We didn't receive any support because, as a commercial enterprise, we were allowed to open while our catering customers were closed. We were only able to overcome this difficult crisis with the company's reserves."
The main products of Herzog include packaged cut herbs in a wide variety of forms. It is also necessary to package fresh herbs, pre-cut and washed, in plastic because the shelf life in other materials can no longer be guaranteed. Herzog GmbH delivers its goods exclusively in IFCO reusable crates to avoid the production of plastic waste as much as possible.
Future prospects in domestic cultivation
Herzog expects the current business year to be challenging as well, due to high costs in areas such as energy, logistics, taxes and wages on the one hand, and extreme product prices and reduced purchasing power on the other. The mood among producers has also been rather gloomy for several years. "Regionality is still very important to us as a company and we try to supply our customers with regional products whenever possible. Unfortunately, there is a tendency for fewer Austrian producers, as the younger generation sometimes opts for other professions. Furthermore, domestic fruit and vegetable production is becoming increasingly difficult due to restrictions on production methods and approved pesticides. Another complicating factor is the problem of finding employees, which many agricultural businesses have to contend with today. We are in the fortunate position that our daughter Melanie and our son Manuel are already working in the company. Nevertheless, the future of our company clearly lies with our producers and consumers, who ultimately honor our service and the quality of our products."
Photo credit: Herzog Großhandels GmbH
For more information:
Thomas Herzog
Herzog Großhandels GmbH
Vienna Wholesale Market, Hall C5/57-61
Tel: 00431/616-20-74,
Fax: 00431/616-20-743
Mobile: 0699/18102842
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.herzogfrische.at