"We bake fresh continuously!"
Interview with Mst. Reinhold Koll, Managing Director of Koll GmbH
Fresh baked goods and a delicious piece of cake contribute significantly to well-being. Koll bakery makes a substantial contribution to this. The family-owned business, headquartered in Kirchschlag in Bucklige Welt, Austria, is present at twelve locations. In addition to the bakeries, customers can also find modernly furnished cafés with service, where they can enjoy coffee, cake, snacks, and ice cream.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Koll, why do you believe your customers shop with you and also enjoy having a piece of cake and a cup of coffee in your cafés?
Reinhold Koll: I can think of several reasons immediately. We bake continuously fresh and are a classic family business. It is certainly also the ambiance of the shops, which we have equipped according to modern standards and which appeal to both young and older clientele equally. Additionally, we have attractive locations on well-frequented streets. Also, the concept of a bakery with an attached café contributes significantly to our success. We also place great value on proximity to our customers, for example through table service.
Wirtschaftsforum: How would you describe your portfolio, your product range? What can customers expect from Koll Bakery?
Reinhold Koll: Since 1986, we have been baking many products directly in front of our customers in the stores. We do not use ready-made baking mixes, but create everything ourselves. In our cafés, guests can expect a wide range of offerings, starting with breakfast and including snacks like topped breads, sandwiches, and toast, as well as pastries and cakes. Moreover, customers will find a large selection of breads and rolls, including many specialty breads. Among these are our popular 'Lava Bread' and our small pastries made from 100% spelt flour. Many of our baked goods are also suitable for vegans.
Wirtschaftsforum: Please tell us a bit about the history of Koll Bakery.
Reinhold Koll: After my father Otto Koll passed his master baker exam in 1978, he bought his teaching company three years later at the age of 23, together with his wife Herta. Along with my wife, I took over my father's business in 2016, after having completed my apprenticeship there and passed my master baker exam.
Wirtschaftsforum: What is the current setup of Koll Bakery?
Reinhold Koll: We currently operate twelve branches. In addition to our headquarters in Kirchschlag, we have locations in Aspang, Bernstein, Grimmenstein, Katzelsdorf, Lanzenkirchen, Lockenhaus, Pitten, Scheiblingkirchen, Wiener Neustadt, and Wiesmath. In total, we employ 135 staff members. Our catchment area includes the northern part of Lower Austria, Wiener Neustadt, and Burgenland.
Wirtschaftsforum: Who are your customers?
Reinhold Koll: In addition to the customers in our bakeries with cafés, we also supply hospitals and nursing facilities. We also have four sales buses that provide smaller locations with baked goods and cakes on a mobile basis.
Wirtschaftsforum: What about your marketing efforts? Do you engage in marketing?
Reinhold Koll: We are active on social media such as Instagram and Facebook and present our products on monitors in the branches. This is complemented by print advertising. One of our employees is dedicated exclusively to our marketing.
Wirtschaftsforum: How digital is Koll Bakery?
Reinhold Koll: We mainly communicate digitally internally, and our recipes are also digitally stored. Digital control is applied to the cooling monitoring and our uniform locking system.
Wirtschaftsforum: Do you also focus on sustainability?
Reinhold Koll: We source our raw materials regionally whenever possible and generate some of our energy through a photovoltaic system. We bake continuously in the branches – this way, the amount of returned goods can be kept low – and we also collaborate with the Red Cross.
Wirtschaftsforum: What is the corporate culture like at Koll Bakery?
Reinhold Koll: We place great value on a good working environment, have a gym in the company for free use, and always have an open ear for the concerns of our employees. We know all employees personally and also regularly visit the branches.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you see the future for Koll Bakery?
Reinhold Koll: We generally want to do everything a little better than it is today. We do not need to grow at any cost, but are open to healthy expansion. Since we are reaching the limit of our production capacity and would like to expand it, we are in discussions with the municipality regarding a new property. Of our two children, our daughter shows quite an interest in continuing the family business in the future.