News from Frierss

Family business in 5th generation

A delightful pleasure

For 123 years, the Frierss family has cultivated the highest Carinthian sausage and ham tradition. The knowledge and know-how is now being passed on to the fifth generation.

The success of the traditional company has many fathers, they all bear the name Frierss, as does the fifth generation.  

For more than three decades, Rudolf Frierss has managed the company together with his brother Kurt, who has now handed over the responsibility for production and quality management to his son Kurt Frierss jun. in the fifth generation. With his experience and expertise, he continues to support the company in word and deed. Rudolf Frierss is also supported by his son Christoph, who joined the company after having completed his law studies and who will take over the sales tasks as Key Account Manager for the time being. Experience and know-how in the sausage and ham trade are thus passed on to the fifth generation.

 

The butcher's craft in the 5th generation

In 1898, great-grandfather Rudolf Frierss founded the first shop as the "first sausage producer in Villach". Already at that time he focused on highest quality and received the first gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition in 1910. The second and third generations of the family set new standards as "Austria's pioneers for special Italian specialities" in the production of mortadella, salami and prosciutto with meat from Austria. Their origin lay in the geographical location of the business in the heart of the Alpe-Adria region and in grandfather's passion for Italy. The breakthrough came in the fourth generation with Rudolf and Kurt Frierss with the successful national and international distribution of Carinthian specialities, such as Carinthian mountain salami or Carinthian country ham, so that today Frierss is one of the leading sausage and ham specialists in Austria.

"We produce around 150 sausage and ham specialities, from original Carinthian to Italian specialities, at our two company sites in Villach and at the raw ham manufactory in Treffen am Ossiachersee, and employ 110 people," says Managing Director Rudolf Frierss proudly.

Besides family tradition, quality and healthy growth, regionality has always been firmly anchored in the company philosophy. At Frierss, the term regionality has for generations encompassed adherence to traditional recipes and production methods of the region as well as the processing of exclusively local meat. "With our Carinthian sausage and ham specialities, we perfectly meet the current consumer trends for regional products, freshness and sustainability. We want to continue to adhere to this," says Frierss. The generations are also united on the issue of sustainability; they are continuously working on measures to conserve resources and increase energy efficiency. For example, the most recent investment in a new steam boiler plant saved 60 tonnes of CO2 per year. Another focus is on the reduction of plastic through consistent packaging optimisation.


"For 123 years, we have been passionately dedicated to the craft of sausage and ham production. In doing so, we maintain traditions and dare to try new things in order to keep up with the times, pick up on consumer trends and develop products for the future," explains Rudolf Frierss. The recipe for success lies in the successful combination of traditional craftsmanship and handed-down family recipes with an innovative spirit of the times. This repeatedly gives rise to exciting new products that are awarded international quality seals and product innovation prizes. The best example is the Carinthian raw ham Garden Herbs, awarded as Austria Product of the Year 2019, or the latest innovation, the new Zirbenrauchschinken.

Frierss specialities are sold in Austrian food retailers and wholesalers, delicatessens and gastronomy as well as in the company's own specialist shops. About 10% of the turnover is sold to Germany, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, South Korea and since 15 years to Japan.

With the new online shop, Frierss is tapping into a strongly growing distribution channel, not least due to the Corona pandemic. The great demand for Carinthian specialities can thus be met not only in Austria, but far beyond the country's borders.

 

 

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