11 December 2024
 Austria is considered a wealthy country, but a closer look reveals that wealth is not evenly distributed. Especially retired women, even if they have worked all their life, often live below the poverty line, which is calculated from the costs needed to finance living. Strategies to change this situation are coming out of necessity mainly from the women themselves. Many retirees seek part-time jobs, but what is truly needed are tailored employment opportunities for seniors. 'Vollpension' (can be translated as 'full retrirement') provides such opportunities, offering retired individuals meaningful employment. The founders of Vollpension come from the fashion business - Mike Lanner and Moriz Piffl were running the eco-fair custom-made jeans label Gebrüder Stitch when they began to realize their Vollpension idea in 2012. As the fashion business declined, Vollpension gained momentum and is now a flourishing social enterprise. According to its website, the organization employs 85 people, half of whom are over the age of 60. Yesterday the new bakery 'Vollpension Generationenbackstube' of the social business with several locations in Vienna was opened by the mayor of the city Michael Ludwig. The bakery will serve as a new production site for popular treats such as Buchteln (sweet pastry - kind of yeast dumpling) and cakes, which gained popularity during the pandemic. The expansion is part of Vollpension's efforts to create jobs and combat senior poverty, with the new facility providing four additional jobs for seniors. These employees will help meet the growing demand for Viennese pastry classics such as Apple Strudel and Sachertorte, which are highly sought after by customers around the world. At the opening, Mayor Michael Ludwig praised the initiative for combining social commitment with gastronomy and addressed the issue of poverty among the elderly. The new bakery will work in synergy with the magdas canteen, a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for people with refugee backgrounds. Vollpension's efforts are also intergenerational, with young and old working together, and the project marks a shift in baking practices that combines tradition with innovation. It was announced that Vollpension will launch its first product from the Generational Bakery today: the limited edition 'Dubai Dschoklad' in the shape of a festive Christmas tree will be available in a limited edition of just 100 handmade pieces at Vollpension in Schleifmühlgasse. In a video posted on Instagram today, Mayor Michael Ludwig and members of the team taste the new chocolate creation, which was developed over generations by Vollpension's Grandma Susi. Image: The picture shows Frau Marianne, Mayor Michael Ludwig and Frau Kathrin at the opening of the 'Vollpension Generationenbackstube' on December 10, 2024, in Vienna's newest bakery. |
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