In October 1972, the "Vienna-Inzersdorf Wholesale Market" was opened at Laxenburger Strasse 365-367. This developed into Austria's most important wholesale location for food and flowers. To mark this occasion, a small ceremony was held on September 20, 2022 with company visits with Mayor Michael Ludwig and guests of honor. GMW Großmarkt Wien Betrieb Ltd - a company of the Wien Holding subsidiary WSE Wiener Standortentwicklung - is responsible for managing the 30-hectare market site.
50 years of Vienna wholesale market
The 50th anniversary of the wholesale location was attended by numerous guests. Among them were Mayor Michael Ludwig, Vienna Chamber of Commerce President Walter Ruck, Liesing District Mayor Gerald Bischof and Wien Holding Managing Director Oliver Stribl.
"The past 50 years have been marked by many economic and social changes. In this half century, Vienna Wholesale Market has managed to remain one of the most important trading hubs for the city and an important regional supplier," said Mayor Ludwig. "I would like to thank all those who ensure every day that the food supply functions so well, even in challenging times."
"The Vienna Chamber of Commerce is connected to the wholesale market primarily through the responsible professional organizations of food trade and agricultural trade. These bodies provide support to many wholesalers in all economic situations. Ensuring a regional and supra-regional supply is particularly important in times of crisis," said Walter Ruck, President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.
"The Vienna wholesale market has been an important goods hub for Vienna for 50 years. Today, some 220 businesses with approximately 1,400 employees are active here. Around 400,000 tons of goods are handled annually. GMW Großmarkt Wien Betrieb and its 21 employees will ensure that everything runs smoothly on a daily basis," says Wien Holding Managing Director Oliver Stribl.
Left to right: Stephan Barasits (GF GMW Großmarkt Wien Betrieb GmbH), Oliver Stribl (GF Wien Holding), Walter Ruck (VCC President), Michael Ludwig (Mayor of the City of Vienna), Gerald Bischof (District Mayor Vienna 23-Liesing)
New Vienna Wholesale Market anniversary brochure handed over
During the ceremony, Mayor Ludwig was also presented with the new Grossmarkt Wien anniversary brochure. The eight-page publication reports on the development of the wholesale market over the past 50 years.
Final on-site company visits
Finally, on this day, company visits took place at the wholesale market area, among others at the company Strobl, one of the largest fruit and vegetable suppliers in Inzersdorf. As a thank you, the delegation - consisting of Mayor Michael Ludwig, President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce Walter Ruck, Liesinger District Mayor Gerald Bischof and Wien Holding Managing Director Oliver Stribl - distributed gift bags to the employees working at the wholesale market. Wholesale market supervisors will continue this distribution campaign over the next few days.
The morning ended at the Kleines TafelHaus, the distribution and processing center of the Wiener Tafel. A special thank you went to those people who work on site every day to save food and contribute to the sensible recycling of donated goods.
The activities for the 50th anniversary were carried out in cooperation with the Vienna Chamber of Commerce - Food Trade and Agricultural Trade.
From market area to wholesale location
The Vienna wholesale market went into operation on October 30, 1972. However, its history goes back a long way: from 1916 onward, domestic vegetables were available in an area near the Naschmarkt, while foreign goods were sold at the Matzleinsdorf freight station. The wholesale flower market was housed in a hall at Phorusplatz in the 4th district. A common trading place was to be created. The huge empty space at Laxenburger Strasse 365-367 was chosen.
The so-called collector corridor - the underground connection linking the buildings, halls and open spaces - was first built starting in April 1969. It still exists today and supplies the market area with electricity and water. The first structure to be built on its foundations was the Flower Hall, before Vienna Wholesale Market was officially opened in 1972.
Over the years, the Vienna Wholesale Market has grown steadily. In 2007, for example, it became necessary to relocate the meat center in St. Marx. Since then, numerous companies in this sector have also been based in the purpose-built Meat hall F One.
Until the end of 2018, MA 59 (Marktamt) was responsible for managing the market area. Since 2019, GMW Großmarkt Wien Betrieb Ltd - a company of the Wien Holding subsidiary WSE Wiener Standortentwicklung - has been responsible for the management.
Today, Großmarkt Wien ranks among the most important wholesale locations for food and flowers.
For more information:
www.grossmarkt-wien.at