Economic hike: Twelfth summit for a good cause

Updated 25.09.2022

café+co invites business leaders and diplomats to the traditional fundraising hike for the "Netzwerk Tirol hilft" in the picturesque Zillertal.

For the twelfth time, high-profile business leaders, politicians and diplomats accepted café+co's invitation to the business hike. More than 300 participants attended the traditional event, which took place for the second time in Fügen in the picturesque Zillertal. Although the economic hike has established itself over the years as an annual platform for cross-industry dialogue and networking, its original purpose remained unchanged: This year, generous donations were again made to the "Netzwerk Tirol hilft", which supports innocent families in need, and for the first time to the "Zillertaler helfen Zillertalern" initiative. On the side of café+co, special thanks are due to the Spieljochbahn, the Schwaz Chamber of Commerce, the Tyrolean Federation of Industry and the 'First Holiday Region in the Zillertal - Fügen-Kaltenbach' for making the economic hike a success.

The festive prelude to the economic hike was a reception on the evening before, which took place for the first time in the idyllic setting of Fügen Castle Park. Here the participants were warmly welcomed with musical sounds from the Bundesmusikkapelle Fügen and the Schützenkompanie Fügen-Fügenberg. This was followed by the procession to the Festhalle Fügen, where the guests were treated to culinary delights. "The atmosphere when so many people come together with the intention of doing good is overwhelming. My special thanks go to everyone who made this event possible again through their personal commitment," said a delighted Fritz Kaltenegger, spokesman for the café+co management. The musical accompaniment by the "Power Band Tirol"; an 'inclusive band' that brings social diversity to the stage with its jazz improvisations, was particularly responsible for the good mood of the evening.

This year, the participants of the economic walk were united by their common mission to help people in need. Under the whimsical moderation of Lukas Schweighofer, donations of more than 300,000 euros have already been collected in this way for the "Netzwerk Tirol hilft" (Tyrol Helps Network) in recent years. "Both the pandemic and the consequences of the war in Ukraine are placing an additional burden on people. That is why stable safety nets are needed for all those who are disadvantaged by fate. My heartfelt thanks go to all the participants of the economic hike, who have once again set a strong sign for lived cohesion," explains Governor and founder of the initiative "Netzwerk Tirol hilft" Günther Platter. This year's donation amount is traditionally announced at the cheque presentation in December.

On Saturday morning, the participants gathered at the valley station of the Spieljochbahn. After a fortifying coffee from the café+co barista team, the gondola took them up to 1,198 metres. The pack animal squadron of the Austrian Armed Forces was already lined up there. Together with several Haflingers, they then went up the mountain from the middle station of the Spieljochbahn through the picturesque mountain landscape of the Zillertal. Snacks and cold drinks were taken along effortlessly by the sure-footed pack of pack animals. The highlight of the hike was the traditional mountain mass celebrated by Reverend Erwin Gerst. After a subsequent lunch in the mountain restaurant "Mountain Loft", the twelfth café+co business hike returned to the valley.

café+co International Managing Director Fritz Kaltenegger and organiser and founder of the business hike, Herbert Rieser, thanked WKO Vice President Martha Schultz, Heinz and Maximilian Schultz with their team from the Schultz Group for their support in organising the event. Together they were able to welcome representatives from business, politics and sport, including Federal Minister Klaudia Tanner, Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig, State Secretary Florian Tursky, Tyrol's Governor Günther Platter, Tyrol's Deputy Governor Josef Geisler, National Councillor Carmen Jeitler-Cincelli, Fügen's Mayor Dominik Mainusch, Chairwoman of the Schwaz Chamber of Commerce Martina Entner, Chairman of Erste Ferienregion im Zillertal Ernst Erlebach, Zillertal Tourism Managing Director Niklas Kramer, Managing Director of the Tourism Association Fügen Manfred Pfister, All4con CEO Christian Kren, Coordinator of the "Netzwerk Tirol hilft" Herbert Peer, Chairwoman of the Association "Zillertaler helfen Zillertalern" Theresia Rauch, BILLA Board Spokesman Robert Nagele, Leadersnet CEO Paul Leitenmüller, A1 COO Martin Resel, Ambassador of Lithuania Donatas Kušlys, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland J.R. Kozłowska, ARA Board Member Harald Hauke, Mondine Europe Managing Director Danijel Aleksic, Verbund Energie4Business Managing Director Martin Wagner, Herbert Empl of EMPL-Fahrzeugwerk, ABB Supervisory Board Member and former Chairman of the Board Franz Chalupezky, Leitbetriebe Austria Managing Director Monica Rintersbacher, Volksbank Wien Director Wolfgang Layr, Zgonc Managing Director Josef Huscava, Brau Union Board Member and Head of Communications Gabriela Maria Straka, Naber Kaffee Managing Director Gerald Matzner-Holmser, café+co Austria Managing Director Zeljko Capan, Fitness Coach to the Stars Gernot Schweitzer, Manstein Verlag Managing Director Markus Gstöttner, JTI Austria Director Ralf-Wolfgang Lothert, Kelly's CEO Markus Marek, Rabmer Gruppe CEO Ulrike Rabmer-Koller, Muhr Immobilien CEO Marlies Muhr, Vulcano Schinkenmanufaktur Katharina and Laura Habel, Phoenix Contact CEO Thomas Lutzky, Lower Austria's Vice Wine Queen Magdalena Eser, Daffodil Queen Lisa Weinhandl and Daffodil Princess Katharina Thomanek, Minister of Economic Affairs a.D. Margarete Schramböck with her partner Marcel-Silvio Klomfar, BIG Supervisory Board Chairwoman Christine Catasta and ex-professional sportsman Peter Stöger.

About café+co International: café+co is the quality and service leader in vending machine catering and coffee supply in Central and Eastern Europe with currently 11 operating subsidiaries in Austria and eight other countries. café+co is primarily engaged in the operation and service of espresso machines as well as vending machines for hot and cold beverages and snacks. In 2021, consumption was 400 million servings due to the Corona pandemic. In the years before, half a billion servings were consumed at the 60,000 café+co locations. In addition to the fully automated café+co shops in private companies and public institutions, café+co also operates eleven self-service cafés and a café+co Express. The company employs around 2,000 people.