The success story of the Almi company, from the small grocery store to the international Almi Group, is largely based on the fact that the company has always been and continues to be run as a family business. All members of the Mittermayr family have contributed to the development of the company from an early age and learned early on what can be achieved when everyone pulls together. Therefore, the following also applies to the employees of the Almi companies: Others have colleagues, we have family.
With courage, diligence and a big dream, Alfred Mittermayr lays the foundation for an international corporation.
In the midst of the world economic crisis and only a few weeks after his wedding to his wife Friederika, Alfred Mittermayr realizes a long-cherished dream: He opens his own small department store in Linz-Urfahr, Leonfeldnerstraße 15.
Known throughout Linz with the "Riesenknacker".
Relocation to a larger, centrally located store in Waltherstraße. In the same year, son Alfred junior is born.
Expansion of the colonial goods trade and supply of spices and oils to gastronomy and butchers. This includes the Hütthaler company, which in return supplies Mittermayr with so-called "giant crackers", for which he becomes known throughout Linz.
With pepper through the difficult times
After the outbreak of the Second World War, Alfred Mittermayr recognizes the signs of the times and buys several tons of pepper. An important asset, during and after the war, which helps to guide the company through these difficult times. Alfred is drafted - along with his BMW convertible - and his wife Friederika bravely manages the business through the war years.
Business with the "wild" garlic
After his return, Alfred Mittermayr gives up the grocery store in Waltherstraße, moves the business to Harrachstraße and concentrates on trading in spices, oils and fats. Alfred mixes the bunkered pepper with caraway and coriander and supplies these and other spice mixtures under the name "Pikala" to butchers. As a substitute for the coveted garlic, he has large quantities of wild garlic cloves harvested.
Pickling salt as a "door opener" and the birth of "Almi“
Alfred Mittermayr obtains a trade license for the production of pickling salt. This enables him to expand his range with an important product that serves as a "door opener" for many butchers for other products. In the same year, the brand "Almi" - the initials of Alfred Mittermayr - is born.
The second generation: "By the time I had finished my apprenticeship, I was only home a little."
After his apprenticeship, Alfred Mittermayr takes over sales in Salzburg, Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Fricki assists her mother with invoicing, bookkeeping and payroll. Heinz starts as a commercial apprentice in 1953: "When I was 15, my father gave me a chauffeur and told me to go to the Mühlviertel and see what I could sell."
New markets: "We had to be careful not to fall under "peddling" with this."
After the withdrawal of the Allies, Almi gains numerous new customers in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. Heinz Mittermayr, not yet 18 years old, delivers with a chauffeur and a fully loaded truck that had to be well looked after.
Trade show appearance in Wels: "There were no brochures yet, but there were giveaways like pencils and razors."
As a well-established brand, Almi is represented with its own stand at the Wels trade fair from 1965 onwards. Advertising does not play a major role at the beginning, but giveaways and vehicle branding are a must. One of the highlights of the fair is the visit of Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky in 1992, who has the sample butchery explained to him.
Moving to Leonding: "He bought a caravan so that he would be warm. After all, he was on the construction site every day, summer and winter."
Due to strong growth, a new spacious plant is built in Leonding starting in 1970. Alfred Mittermayr senior - then already over 60 - takes over the construction supervision and by the end of 1972 the new location is already finished. In 1977 Alfred Mittermayr hands over the entire business in equal shares to his two sons Alfred and Heinz Mittermayr.
Expert advice and combination blends: "The sausage maker is only human, after all. Once he has forgotten this and once that."
Almi strengthens its market position with competent customer advice and facilitates the work of butchers with ready-made combi-mixtures.
The third generation: "I did everything that came up: loading cars, washing cars, gluing bags, mixing."
Almi's tradition as a family business continues with the entry of Alfred and Heinz's children. Like their fathers, Alexander, Alfred and Christian are learning the business from the ground up.
Spice blends to South Africa: "Some of these plants were almost located in the middle of the jungle."
With Spicetech as a trading partner, Almi supplies spices to South Africa. Business is developing well and the sales area is being expanded to include Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and parts of Kenya.
Departure to the East: "Then we toasted, with vodka of course."
After the opening of Eastern Europe, the need for Western know-how in meat and sausage processing is great. Almi takes advantage of this circumstance and conquers new markets: first the Czech Republic and Slovakia, then Poland and finally Russia. Experienced consultants and technologists like Josef Zukal are doing pioneering work on site.
The export successes make a further expansion of the production facility in Leonding indispensable.
A four-story production building with state-of-the-art grinding, mixing and filling technology as well as a warehouse for raw materials are being built on 5,000 m2.
Almi researches - Almi develops - Almi advises
In order to test the latest developments for user and practical suitability, the Almi Academy and the Almi Technical Center are opened. Customers are welcomed and receive customized seminars and advice.
After the turn of the millennium, the focus is on opening up Eastern Europe and expanding exports to Asia and Western Europe.
The founding of Almi Romania and Almi Serbia-Montenegro in 2001 strengthens the company's position in Eastern Europe. In the following years, the subsidiaries are expanded to include Almi Hungary (2003) and Almi Bulgaria (2004).
The new Almi Headquarters in Oftering near Linz.
The construction of the headquarters in Oftering takes on imposing dimensions. The new building covers 19,500 m2 and includes, among other things, the company headquarters with three floors, a warehouse, a two-story packaging plant, a cafeteria and a dining hall. The investment sum amounts to a proud 35 million euros.
Worldwide success drives growth.
Only five years after the construction of the Almi headquarters in Oftering, an additional plant expansion of 10,000 m2 is necessary. In the same year, Almi creates new opportunities in the African market by acquiring a majority stake in the South African company Spicetech. In addition, Almi Germany is also founded in the same year.
Global expansion remains the focus.
Almi strengthens its presence in the CIS countries with the acquisition of sales companies in Ukraine, Georgia and Kazakhstan. This is being followed by the formation of Almi Russia and Almi Belarus in 2016 and 2017. Almi now almost has a pan-European presence with its own subsidiaries and launches Almi Czech Republic in 2014 and Almi Netherlands in 2018.
Close to the consumer with high-quality nutritional supplements.
Natural Power, which specializes in sports nutrition, expands the Almi Group and inspires athletes and health-conscious people with its products, developed and produced in Oftering. Almi's exceptional performance in the Austrian economy earns it the distinction of the Austrian Federal Coat of Arms.
Expansion in Asia.
The establishment of Almi China enables the company to respond even more quickly to the Asian market and to meet country-specific needs. Individual customer requirements are also the focus of the opening of the technical center in Moscow.
Steady growth of Almi Group strategically and sustainably strengthens its position in the food industry.
With the help of the new subsidiaries, the constantly increasing requirements of the industry can be met. Bioscience Food Solutions GmbH has been developing, producing and distributing raw materials and ingredients for the food industry throughout Europe since 2014. With Rüther Gewürze GmbH, an experienced partner in the field of spice extracts, oleoresins and essential oils was acquired. Innov8 was founded to solve individual problems through innovative research and development.
Successful integration of the long-standing family-owned company Italdroghe.
The strategic acquisition consolidates the position in the European market and enables not only a broader product range but also an additional production site for sustainable growth in the food industry.
Close to the end consumer.
With the recent acquisition of the brand Auinger, Almi is expanding its range and also offers customers in the supermarket the optimal seasonings for a wide range of tastes.
The companies and partners within the Almi Family are dedicated to the success of customers worldwide in a total of six business segments.
