Just over a year ago, you worked for the multinational company Unilever; is it possible to compare the work of a multinational and a family business with so many years of tradition? If, after several years of working in a multinational company, you become a "member" of a family that has had its own company in a certain country for more than a century,...
Just over a year ago, you worked for the multinational company Unilever; is it possible to compare the work of a multinational and a family business with so many years of tradition?
If, after several years of working in a multinational company, you become a "member" of a family that has had its own company in a certain country for more than a century, you experience some upheavals, but I was prepared for them. Unlike multinationals, family businesses develop more slowly, are more tied to one market and only commit to a smaller number of higher quality products. This is precisely why the product is a recognizable part of the environment in which it is located. Similar to cultural heritage, we can look at them with great pride.
Is the tradition tied to your hometown still a privilege when you enter foreign markets?
It is not necessary, as there are many very successful multinational companies in Slovenia, such as Kraft. But it certainly means a lot to people if a family business, which maintains relatively small production and high quality, remains locally focused by supporting activities in the country that mean something to people. If in Vienna we help with the restaurant of Štefan's Cathedral - a symbol of the city and the company, in Slovenia it is supporting flights in Planica. On the other hand, Manner's products have been known in Slovenia for a very long time, as the two countries are neighbors. Grandmas probably used to buy these wafers.
Apart from Stephen's Cathedral, the first association when thinking of Manner is also the apricot pink color of the packaging; is this, like the cathedral, intended as a recognizable attribute?
Originally, the wafers were bought in pieces and packed in tin boxes tied with a bow in the "manner" color, so the color has been associated with the company practically from the beginning, but more by chance; bows in this color were available at that time, it became a true symbol later. The cathedral as a symbol of Vienna and Austria, on the other hand, is a trademark that the founder relied on and thus promoted the city in the world, but at the same time Vienna promotes Manner.
Does the world of sweets also follow trends?
Certain trends exist, but they change more slowly than in some other industries. Since we all care about our health and appearance, we mostly don't buy large quantities of sweets anymore. We prefer to indulge in less, but this piece must be that much better, made from quality ingredients, preferably from the home environment, because we trust it. Sweetening is once again becoming a special occasion, and candy is something that turns a part of the everyday into a holiday.
What will we sweeten ourselves with for the next hundred and twenty years?
Recently, at Manner, we designed Pausen Schnitte, which is in a way a response to trends and today's lifestyle. In addition to quality raw materials, which are not genetically modified and exclusively from domestic milk, we also made sure that it is a dessert that is eaten with a few bites.
How demanding are we candy lovers, do we want something new every time or do we swear by the same product over and over again?
In my experience, gourmets like to seek out new flavors, explore different combinations or new nuances within one flavor. As a result, candy companies are expanding their production with new products. From the point of view of marketing, this is certainly welcome, as each new product can find new consumers and at the same time strengthen the awareness of its credibility and vitality among regular customers, thereby also increasing the popularity of traditional products.
When you have a sweet tooth and which Manner product banishes it the fastest?
I still prefer the traditional Manner Schnitte, a pack of ten wafers, because I practically started my life with this product. In addition, these wafers are a true symbol of Vienna. I also really like Manner cubes - chocolates with hazelnut cream, because I probably have at least one or two every day. Otherwise, it's hard for me to resist sweets. If there are Schoko Bananen on the table, I will have a very hard time convincing myself not to indulge in sweets.
