Entrepreneur points out:

“If we’re not jealous, we’ve all had enough”

Long before sustainability became a sales strategy for many, Ertl was already practicing the conscious use of raw materials. He was also recognized for this.(Bild: Herwig Ertl)

After winning the Innovation Award, the Upper Carinthian luxury grocer Herwig Ertl is considered a role model for many companies. He is revolutionizing an entire industry with his approaches.

As reported, more than 400 Carinthians from the catering and hotel industry accepted the invitation of the Chamber of Commerce to the Hosts' Day in Velden in March. Everyone met there to turn their backs on the mood of crisis and look positively to the future.

The winners of the tourism award - the Slow Food Initiative and the Kötschach gourmet chef Herwig Ertl, who even won the Austrian Innovation Award for Tourism for his innovative culinary experiences - are seen as driving forces for the entire industry.

"A special path"
"As a gourmet grocer, I have been following a special path for a long time. A path that I am following together with my family, my team and my producers for us and our customers - according to the motto 'if we are not jealous, we all have enough'! This is the only way we can make a difference," Ertl sums it up.

The stories behind the products are very important to Edelgreissler! His eye-catching initiatives cause a stir.(Bild: Herwig Ertl)

His popular "Edelgreisslerei" is not a traditional retail concept. Sustainable shopping is a way of life there. Ertl has created a place that focuses on food and creates an awareness of it. Customers can not only taste products here, but also learn the stories behind them - which in turn strengthens the producers, for whom the Edelgreißler has long been a hub in the Alpe-Adria region. "My goal is an educational mission; anyone who leaves the Edelgreißlerei must have learned something!"