Holzinger Fish

Short Description

“Holzinger”, a family-owned company in Upper Austria has been producing fresh fish and smoked fish products since 1892. Live fish for processing is procured exclusively from certified suppliers from Austria and Europe, who are committed to responsible fish farming and high animal welfare standards.

Point of Departure

The “Holzinger” fish processing company is an important partner for the regional economy, but also active on the European market (Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Switzerland). However, constantly evolving requirements in sales require continuous adaptations regarding husbandry and processing. Freshly processed fish from the company’s own ponds combined with a 24-hour logistics system throughout Austria ensure a high level of freshness and quality, but require constant further development.

With this in mind the Holzinger company has taken extensive measures to modernise and digitise fish processing and marketing in recent years, paying particular attention to animal welfare and environmental protection.

Targets and target groups

The main objectives of the operations supported under the Austrian EMFF programme include:

• Increase in sales
• Increasing employment, improving working conditions and logistics
• Increasing product quality, improving traceability and data security
• Reducing environmental and climate impacts
• Increasing animal welfare

In particular, the following target groups have been reached and their requirements and/or expectations are met:

• Customers
• Employees

In addition, the supported activities also serve the sustainable and qualitative development of the company and safeguard its location in Upper Austria.

Project implementation and Measures

In order to meet the demands of both trade and consumers, investments have been carried out in the following fields:

• Modernisation of the pond systems including renewal and extension of the recirculation technology
• Processing and marketing:
  • Digitalisation of administration, development of IT-systems
  • Improvement of fresh fish processing and smoking
  • Modernisation of machinery (transport vehicles, slaughtering machines, etc.) and internal logistics
• Infrastructure for a photovoltaic system

Results and Effects

• The volume of aquaculture production has been continuously increased and the quality of products, procedures and management systems has been improved.
• Due to increased fish production, new jobs have been created, thus increasing the level of employment in the region.
• The investment activities have contributed to improving the economic situation of the company, increasing the value of initial sales and increasing direct marketing.
• The environmental and climate impacts could be significantly reduced by using more efficient pumps, photovoltaic systems and modern recirculation technology: For example, since autumn 2016, all fish products have been produced exclusively with energy from sustainable, environmentally friendly and renewable resources.