Wiberg

WIBERG is an Austrian spice and seasoning brand founded in February 1947 by Wilhelm Berger and Helene Berger as Wiberg KG in Stuhlfelden, Oberpinzgau. The name "Wiberg" is an acronym formed from the first syllables of Wilhelm Berger's name. The founding idea was to supply sausage producers with ready-made spice blends of consistent flavour quality. The company moved to the city of Salzburg in 1954 and later established a branch in Freilassing, Germany, in 1962 for the European market. Over the decades WIBERG expanded from serving butchers into hotel and restaurant gastronomy, and since 1977 it has also offered sausage casing finishing services (tying, gathering and printing). The brand's product range includes herbs, spices, spice blends, soups, sauces, vinegars, oils and convenience seasoning preparations, as well as sausage casings. WIBERG serves meat-processing craft businesses, hotels, restaurants, system gastronomy and communal catering, and also offers its professional spices for home use. Its assortments are tailored to different user needs under lines such as Exquisite, À la Carte, WIBERG BASIC and WOW. The company has long emphasised quality, with ISO 9001 certification since 1994 and ISO 22000 since 2010, along with organic and Halal certifications. WIBERG remained a family business for decades. After founder Wilhelm Berger died in 1981, his daughter Helga Winkler-Berger took over; in 2001 Marcus Winkler, third generation, became managing director. The company was sold three times: to the Israeli Frutarom group in 2015 for EUR 119 million, to the US group IFF in 2018, and at the end of June 2023 to the French investment firm PAI for around EUR 900 million. Under PAI the business was bundled into NovaTaste, headquartered in Salzburg, and the WIBERG brand continues with the suffix "by NovaTaste". As of mid-2023 the Wiberg group had 17 production sites worldwide, with its largest plant in Freilassing, Bavaria, employing 350 people. The brand remains active in Austria, Germany, Canada, the United States and Russia, among other markets.

Wiberg was founded in February 1947 by Wilhelm Berger and Helene Berger as Wiberg KG in Stuhlfelden, Oberpinzgau. The company name "Wiberg" is an acronym from the first syllables of Wilhelm Berger's name. The founder's business idea was to offer sausage producers ready-made spice blends with consistent flavour quality. In 1954 Wiberg moved to the city of Salzburg. In 1962 the company established a branch in neighbouring Freilassing for the European Community market. In 1973 Wiberg began selling spices and spice blends for gastronomy in Austria. Since 1977 the finishing of sausage casings (tying, gathering and printing) expanded the company's offering. In the same year the company built a new company building in Salzburg, moved its headquarters there and expanded it further in 1978. In 1981 founder Kommerzialrat Wilhelm Berger died. His daughter, Helga Winkler-Berger, took over the company. In 1983/84 the 21-year-old Freilassing branch was replaced by a complete new company building. In 1987 Wiberg made a move into the American market and opened Wiberg Corporation in Toronto, Canada, which was expanded in 1996 and relocated to Oakville, Ontario. In 1994 Wiberg's quality management system was certified according to ISO 9001. In 1997 the Salzburg headquarters was expanded into the company's central office. In 2001 Marcus Winkler, who had joined the company in 1998, took over management in the third generation. In the same year branches were founded in Los Angeles and Barcelona. In 2005 construction began on the new production and logistics centre in Freilassing, which was officially opened in 2008. In 2010 Wiberg was certified according to ISO 22000. In February 2010 Wiberg was awarded the Salzburg coat of arms by Governor Gabi Burgstaller. The family business was sold three times: in 2015 to the Israeli Frutarom group for EUR 119 million; in 2018 to the US group IFF; and at the end of June 2023 to the French investor PAI for around EUR 900 million. The global business was to be bundled by NovaTaste in Salzburg and the Wiberg brand was to be retained. At the end of June 2023 the Wiberg group had 17 production sites worldwide, with the largest plant in Freilassing, Upper Bavaria, employing 350 people. The spice blends, flavours and textures produced go to the food industry, butcher shops and gastronomy. In 2016 the company was sold to Frutarom and in 2017 renamed FRUTAROM Savory Solutions Austria GmbH. In May 2023 the French private equity firm PAI took over the company, which now operates as NovaTaste Austria GmbH. The brands remain and receive the suffix "by NovaTaste".

• Founded as Wiberg KG in Stuhlfelden by Wilhelm and Helene Berger

• Moved to Salzburg

• Established branch in Freilassing for the European Community market

• Began selling spices and spice blends for gastronomy in Austria

• Expanded into sausage casing finishing; built new company building in Salzburg

• Founder Wilhelm Berger died; daughter Helga Winkler-Berger took over

• Opened Wiberg Corporation in Toronto, Canada

• Quality management system certified according to ISO 9001

• Salzburg headquarters expanded into company central office

• Marcus Winkler became managing director; branches founded in Los Angeles and Barcelona

• Construction began on new production and logistics centre in Freilassing

• New production and logistics centre in Freilassing officially opened

• Certified according to ISO 22000; awarded Salzburg coat of arms

• Sold to Frutarom for EUR 119 million

• Sold to Frutarom; renamed FRUTAROM Savory Solutions Austria GmbH in 2017

• Sold to US group IFF

• PAI takes over; company operates as NovaTaste Austria GmbH

• Sold to PAI for around EUR 900 million; brand continues under NovaTaste

Premium Austrian spice house for professional gastronomy, food producers and home cooks, known for quality, innovation and tailored assortments.

• Spices

• Spice blends

• Herbs

• Soups

• Sauces

• Vinegars

• Oils

• Convenience seasoning preparations

• Sausage casings

1. 1WIBERG official websitewiberg.eu
2. 2Wiberg (Unternehmen) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wiberg GmbH – Wikidatawikidata.org