There were great expectations and optimism when Hermann and Thomas Neuburger presented “Hermann fleischlos” in autumn 2016 – as an alternative to meat loaf, with which the Mühlviertel family business has made a name for itself beyond the national borders.
In the future, however, Neuburger will forego vegetarian dishes. Because the company is putting the “Hermann” brand, as it is now called, on hold for the time being. Although meat substitute products would still be made for a few weeks and the products would be available in stores for that long, the future of the brand was up in the air. This was announced by the father-son team yesterday, Friday, in a broadcast.
The company cited the price increases as a result of the corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine as the reason for this. According to Neuburger, the prices for raw materials, energy and transport are currently immense and cannot be predicted for the future. “In order to be able to continue to offer our products at an affordable price, we would have to make unacceptable compromises in quality. Stretching the ingredients, doing without organic or adding additives – that’s out of the question,” Hermann and Thomas Neuburger are quoted as saying.
The managing directors do not hide the fact that the pandemic also played its part. “The crisis has counteracted the establishment phase of the products unfavorably,” says OÖN when asked.
Mushroom cultivation is continued
How long the brand will be shut down “cannot be answered at this time”. Affected are 50 employees who are to be used in other positions. The – energy-intensive – mushroom cultivation in Ulrichsberg, the basis for vegetarian schnitzel or bratwurst, will continue to be operated, it is said. Neuburger recently announced that it would invest 50 million euros in new halls.
Other plans are also open (entry into the fish market, profit expectations from 2025, factory expansion from 2026). The production of Neuburger continues, the meat division financed the meatless division with 70 employees and 80 percent share of the group turnover. According to the company register, Hermann’s liabilities amounted to twelve million euros, with a profit carried forward of 13.4 million euros in the Neuburger Holding. (Rome)
Source: Nachrichten
