In his introductory speech, David Strauß (UAS BFI Vienna) explained that the webinar was conceived to foster a proactive dialogue with stakeholders and initiate discussions on short value chains in the food sector.
The webinar was moderated by Gerda Hartmann from ECONSULT and featured contributions from local producers and institutional representatives.
Roman Brandhofer, a producer of 100% natural fruit juices, shared his experience of the logistical challenges faced by regional producers, drawing on his business established in 2006 in Brandhof, Lower Austria.
Thomas Simon, Managing Director of Hausbrot, presented practical insights into food logistics. Since 2011, Hausbrot has been delivering products from regional bakeries and producers directly to consumers’ homes across Vienna, distributing more than 2.5 million freshly prepared bakery products each year.
Franz Schwammenhöfer, Head of the Logistics Coordination Department at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection (BMK), presented information on federal funding opportunities for innovative logistics projects. He explained that the funding programme supports innovative logistics concepts across all transport modes to strengthen the competitiveness of the Austrian logistics sector while promoting social and environmental sustainability.
Andrea Faast, Head of the Location and Infrastructure Policy Department at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, presented initiatives supporting electromobility for SMEs, fleet transformation, electric charging infrastructure, and the development of zero-emission transport in central Vienna. She also highlighted the importance of Smart Specialisation Strategies (SSS), including the “Sustainable Logistics 2030+ Lower Austria–Vienna” action plan and its pilot projects.
The webinar concluded with an open discussion, giving participants the opportunity to exchange views and gain a deeper understanding of regional food logistics.