Gerstner: a Viennese company founded in 1847

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1 Gerstner: a Viennese company founded in 1847 Tradition and quality at the highest level Over 165 years ago, Anton and Barbara Gerstner laid the cornerstone for the Gerstner Company by founding their confectioner s shop in the heart of Vienna. With exceptional artistic skills, a passion for chocolate and by using only the finest ingredients, they impressed their customers with handmade cakes and confectionery. Since becoming an Imperial and Royal Confectioner s Shop, Gerstner has evolved into a highly successful and diverse enterprise. Building on this long tradition, Gerstner has succeeded in developing into one of the most prestigious companies in Austria s gourmet and hospitality sector. Superb quality, reliability and perfect service for its customers have always formed the pillars of Gerstner s success. But Gerstner also knows how to find the perfect balance between zeitgeist and tradition; this is reflected in its wide range of high-end products and services. Since 2014 the new Gerstner next to the opera house, located at the Kärntner Strasse 51, is Vienna s first address for the finer things in life. A unique oasis of wellbeing and pleasure with an innovative concept including Shop, Café and Sparkling Bar.

2 The shop on the ground floor reflects the great confectionery virtuosity of Gerstner and offers a wide product range from the chocolate manufactory as well as those of the Schlumberger sparkling wine manufactory and marvellous gift sets. In the comfortable living room with sparkling bar on the first floor, the delicacies can be enjoyed at the bar, in small cubicles or in a pleasant lounge-like ambience with a unique view of the Vienna State Opera. Besides the original Imperial and Royal Confectioner s Shop, the company has also managed the magnificent premises of Gerstner Beletage at Todesco Palace, which features a showroom and a demonstration kitchen. This classic location in the heart of Vienna also serves as the perfect venue for civil ceremonies of fairy-tale weddings. In 2006 the Style Café Gerstner - La Cité at P&C was opened within the Peek & Cloppenburg clothing and fashion store in the Vienna Mariahilferstrasse, where the modern ambience is complimented with a new added twist to the art of traditional Viennese pastry. In 2015 the first Gerstner site outside Europe opened its doors. With Gerstner Imperial Confectioner Kuwait the company realized its first shop and café in the Arab world. The product portfolio includes the well-known Viennese pastries and Gerstner coffee, Gerstner teas and Gerstner Imperial Juices. A long tradition underpins the partnership with the Vienna State Opera (since 1869) and the Vienna Musikverein, while Gerstner also delights and indulges its customers at the Vienna Hofburg, at the Niederösterreich Palace, at the Laxenburg Conference Center and at Exhibition & Congress Center Vienna.

3 Whether for the sumptuous elegance of the Vienna Philharmonic Ball, the glitz and glamour of the Vienna Opera Ball, the formal tradition of the Techniker Cercle Ball or the in-vogue style of the Life Ball Gerstner is omnipresent, serving thousands of guests every year at Vienna s most renowned ballroom events. Gerstner s experience with ballroom catering dates back to the glittering balls of the Imperial Court and the masked balls of the Vienna Opera. During a single ball season, Gerstner provides the catering for about 22 ballroom events. A hotel group is added to the portfolio At the end of 2012, the company expanded its wide portfolio in the area of hospitality. The Gerstner Group now includes: Hotel de France, Hotel Kummer, Hotel Alpha in Vienna; Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf in Baden; Grand Hotel Bohemia in Prague and Grandhotel Brno in Brno. With these acquisitions, Managing Owner of Gerstner, Oliver W. Braun, also fulfilled a personal dream, since the hotel industry has always been a passion of the qualified hotel manager. The hotels are to retain their individual brand identities, because the establishments have a very strong brand awareness and although they will be part of Gerstner, they need to keep their individual authenticity, says Braun, who plans to finish the evaluation of the acquired properties by On the whole, Gerstner has made use of many opportunities in the past decade for the purposes of combining tradition and zeitgeist, and emphasising its modernity, says Braun, who sees a similar opportunity in the acquisition of the hotel group.

4 As a result of the expansion of the company to include the hotel business, Gerstner is now able to provide an impressive full service to its customers. The wide range of services offered includes overnight accommodation, cultural events and dining in Gerstner s Landhaus. Together, we can now offer the perfect urban experience, from culinary offers and customised packages for conferences to overnight stays. We ll do our utmost to make our guests experience the fine art of Viennese hospitality every day, Oliver W. Braun explains. The new umbrella brand Gerstner Imperial Hospitality Group The acquisition of the hotel group was also an incentive to give the company a new brand identity. The hotel division now operates under the brand name Gerstner Hotels & Residences. This falls under the new umbrella brand Gerstner Hospitality Group, which also includes the divisions Gerstner K u. K Hofzuckerbäcker and Gerstner Catering.

5 Vienna s first catering service The foundation for the first catering service in Austria was laid with the commissioning by Emperor Franz Joseph to provide catering for the 1873 World Exhibition in the Viennese Prater. Gerstner was commissioned to provide visitors with creature comforts at the Imperial Pavilion and other exhibition pavilions: This prestigious order was followed by many more and from then on, Gerstner supplied all court events with its famous confectionery. Whenever glittering court balls were held, Gerstner would serve bonbonnières, each a delicate work of art in its own right. At Christmas, the company decorated the Christmas trees of the Imperial Palace with confectionery. Gerstner also arranged buffets for numerous banquets and receptions at the Imperial Palace. Empress Elisabeth frequented Gerstner not only for its delightful candied violets, but also to buy gifts for her grandchildren. Even the wedding cake of Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma was created in the confectioner s shop close to Stephansplatz a veritable masterpiece in fondant and royal icing. From the signing of the Austrian State Treaty of 1955 to the present-day catering services for thousands of visitors of the Viennese Exhibition & Congress Center and the culinary arrangements for state banquets in the Hofburg Vienna for decades, Gerstner

6 has always ensured the highest level of quality and perfection, be it a gala dinner or an international conference with up to 28,000 participants. Gerstner Catering is also committed to sustainability and its high quality standards, environmental awareness and trained staff enabled Gerstner to become the first catering company of its size to be awarded the Ecolabel in An experienced service enterprise Since the year 2000, Managing Owner Oliver W. Braun has forged the destiny of Gerstner. As a trained restaurateur and hotelier, he knew how to restructure and reposition the traditional company. Under his leadership, the company portfolio has been significantly expanded, while always retaining the traditional core values of the Gerstner brand. As Braun comments, In recent years, Gerstner has evolved into a company that operates on a very sound but also highly profitable basis, thus creating a firm foundation from which to strategically expand our activities and areas of business, even across borders. Today, the Gerstner Group employs a staff of nearly 600. Since 1847, Gerstner has therefore successfully recognised how to reinvent and redefine its highquality, customer-oriented service in a contemporary context.

7 Contact information: Ursula Andre, Marketing & PR GERSTNER Hospitality Group GmbH Kärntner Straße 51, 1010 Vienna Tel.: [email protected]

8 Gerstner Highlights of an Austrian success story starting in April 1847 Anton and Barbara Gerstner establish their confectioner s shop in Vienna. Gerstner has become famous through the imitation of fruit by tragacanth Awarded gold and bronze medals at the Paris World Exhibition During an expedition to Asia Gerstner handed over a hospitality gift to the Japanese emperor consisting of confectioneries and tragacanth products Gerstner provides the catering services for the Imperial & Royal Court Opera Theatre (now the Vienna State Opera); a partnership that continues to this day Gerstner becomes Austria s first catering company, providing culinary services for dinners and receptions at the Imperial Court and for the World Exhibition in the Viennese Prater. Gerstner is awarded a gold medal for its exhibition pieces. Gerstner is appointed as Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court Catering for the wedding banquet of Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma and Archduke Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine on 21 October Gold medal for outstanding achievements at the Culinary Art Exhibition in Vienna.

9 1952 Silver medal for outstanding achievements at the Four Country Exhibition in Munich Gerstner provides the buffet at the signing ceremony of the Austrian State Treaty and for the gala dinner in Schönbrunn Palace afterwards Gerstner participates in the Paris World Exhibition and is awarded several gold medals The company becomes a trailblazer in the area of museum cafés and restaurants: Gerstner is entrusted with the culinary direction of the Vienna Museum of Fine Arts, including the café & restaurant of the cupola-domed hall, as well as events and catering The Gerstner Kunst und Genuss Abend-Buffet (Art & Delight Evening Buffet) is introduced to the Museum of Fine Arts and becomes a registered trademark Gerstner is acquired by a private investor group, and production operations are relocated to Simmeringer Hauptstrasse Oliver W. Braun takes over direction of the business Gerstner is ranked No. 2 in the world amongst the top 10 Great Gallery Restaurants as recognition for its partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts Gerstner starts providing all culinary services required by the Vienna Musikverein, including buffets, events, catering and balls. The Gerstner Kunstbrunch (Art Brunch) is launched at the Museum of Fine Art Gerstner takes over as provider of catering services for trade and consumer fairs, banquets and conferences with up to 28,000 visitors as well as for events in the new Viennese Exhibition & Congress Center. Operation and administration are relocated to this new location.

10 2006 Provision of catering services for Art for Art Theatre Service Workshops in the Vienna Arsenal. Opening of the stylish café Gerstner - La Cité at Peek & Cloppenburg Gerstner Catering moves into the Beletage of Todesco Palace, providing staterooms for events and expanding the successful showroom concept. Gerstner becomes a member of Wien Products The Gerstner Beletage in Todesco Palace is officially registered as a venue to conduct civil weddings. Gerstner Catering Betriebs GmbH becomes the first company of its size to be awarded the Austrian Ecolabel by the Federal Ministry of Life. New catering partnerships are established with the Niederösterreich Palace and the Laxenburg Conference Center. Gerstner becomes the first catering company to be adopted as full member by the Austrian Convention Bureau Gerstner becomes the catering partner of the Vienna Hofburg Gerstner expands its portfolio with the Austria Hotels International Group. With six hotels, operating under the brand name Gerstner Hotels & Residences. They are part of the new umbrella brand Gerstner Hospitality Group, which also includes the divisions Gerstner K u. K Hofzuckerbäcker Vienna and Gerstner Culinary. The central administration is relocated to Palais Todesco, Kärntner Strasse 51, 1010 Vienna In December 2014, the new Gerstner next to the opera house, Kärntner Strasse 51, opens with a unique concept of shop, café, and sparkling bar Opening of the first Gerstner site outside Europe in June Gerstner Imperial Confectioner Kuwait with shop and café in the Shopping Center The Gate Mall.

11 Where to find Gerstner Gerstner Imperial Confectioner Shop Café Sparkling Bar Kärntner Strasse 51, 1010 Vienna Exquisite, handmade cakes, chocolate creations and exclusive gifts; living room with sparkling bar Gerstner E-Shop Gerstner Beletage in Todesco Palace Kärntner Strasse 51, 1010 Vienna Staterooms for private and corporate events; conferences; Gerstner showroom and demonstration kitchen; perfect venue for fairy-tale weddings Gerstner - La Cité at Peek & Cloppenburg Mariahilferstrasse 26-30, 1070 Vienna The Style Café & boutique offers chic and modern light refreshments with newly inspired patisserie

12 Gerstner Imperial Confectioner Kuwait The Gate Mall, Al-Eqaila, Kuwait Gerstner dependance; cakes and confectionary, Gerstner Imperial Juices, Gerstner Coffee. Gerstners Landhaus Himmelstrasse 16, 1190 Vienna À la carte Restaurant and athmospheric event location with cosy county style rooms and historic vaulted cellars; GERSTNERS LANDPARTIE Sunday-Brunch for the entire family Viennese Exhibition & Congress Center Messeplatz 1, 1020 Vienna Catering for events, seminars, banquets and congresses for up to visitors; Exhibition services & booth catering; Exhibition restaurants ( Reed Messe Vienna, G. Szuklits)

13 Vienna State Opera Opernring 2, 1010 Vienna State opera buffets; Events, Catering; Vienna Opera Ball; Pre-Order Service ( Vienna State Opera, Michael Pöhn) Vienna Musikverein Wiener Musikvereinsplatz 1, 1010 Vienna Concert buffets & bars; Events; Catering; Pre-Order Service; Catering for the New Year s Concert HOFBURG Vienna Conferences, banquets, events and balls for up to 5,000 guests ( HOFBURG Vienna, M. Seidl) Niederoesterreich Palace Conventions, conferences and events Laxenburg Conference Center Banquets and events

14 Where to be indulged by Gerstner Catering Business & Office: For the office and meetings, seminars, conventions and press conferences at any desired location Private Catering: Champagne breakfast, birthday parties and weddings Liechtenstein City and Garden Palace Austrian National Library ( Palais Liechtenstein_GmbH, ( Austrian National Library) Fotomanufaktur Grünwald) Spanish Riding School MuseumsQuartier ( Herta Hurnaus) Schlumberger Cellars And also in numerous partner venues. For more information, please visit: ( Schlumberger)

15 Gerstner Imperial Hotels & Residences Hotels in Austria Hotel de France Vienna Schottenring 3, 1010 Vienna Elegant hotel located on the Ringstrasse, offering exclusive luxury and personal service. Built in 1872, on the occasion of the World Exhibition. Hotel Kummer Vienna Mariahilferstrasse 71a, 1060 Vienna Charming hotel right on the Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna s most popular shopping street. Offers quick access to public means of transport. Hotel Alpha Vienna Buchfeldgasse 8, 1080 Vienna Modern hotel in an excellent, quiet location. Next to the city centre and to Vienna s famous landmarks. Direct access to public means of transport.

16 Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf Residence & Spa, Baden near Vienna Schlossgasse 9-11, 2500 Baden Family-run hotel with an outstanding kitchen and a charming castle-like ambience. Wellness & spa. Perfect for seminars, events and weddings. Hotels in the Czech Republic Grand Hotel Bohemia Králodvorská 4, Prague 1 Traditional 5-star hotel in the heart of Prague s medieval centre. Historical building, constructed in the 1920s, that is a combination of traditional and modern styles. Grandhotel Brno Benešova 18 20, Brno A charming hotel with an excellent service and a friendly atmosphere, located in the centre of Brno.