13.09.2023 Eurogast Speckbacher – 118 Years of History

118 years have passed since Alois and Maria Speckbacher founded the “First Außerfern Steam Bakery.” Today, four generations later, siblings Andrea and Peter Speckbacher have taken over the management of what is now known as Eurogast Speckbacher. Much has changed over the decades. With last year’s renovation, the opening of the deli, and the new Speckbacher Market Hall, the focus has shifted toward “experiencing food” and celebrating culinary enjoyment. I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrea Speckbacher, Head of Marketing at Eurogast Speckbacher and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the Tourism Association of the Reutte Nature Park Region, who gave me an insightful look behind the scenes.

“The company was founded in 1905 by my great-grandparents, Alois and Maria Speckbacher. At the beginning, they operated the ‘First Außerfern Steam Bakery’ in the historic Speckbacher House in Reutte, where baked goods were produced and delivered throughout the region.

However, with the outbreak of the First World War, Alois was called into military service, and my great-grandmother was unable to continue running the bakery on her own. In 1915, the business was transformed into a grocery store, which operated successfully at that location until 1974. After the Second World War, the region experienced a strong growth in tourism, which led to another major change. In 1974, we relocated and built modern business premises at our current location on Großfeldstraße in Reutte. From there, we began specializing in the supply of hotels and restaurants, gradually becoming an important partner for the hospitality industry. Today, I proudly manage the company together with my brother Peter Speckbacher, continuing our family tradition. Speckbacher in Reutte is not just a business, but a part of our region’s history, representing quality and continuity.”

“We supply around 800 local businesses – ranging from small kiosks to company canteens – both in the Reutte district and in the neighboring Allgäu region. In doing so, we maintain strong regional partnerships. Our close connection to the region is an important part of our identity and our commitment to the local community.”

“Our main goal with the renovation was to encourage both private customers and business clients to experience food in a completely new way. We wanted our customers to feel as if they were visiting a market – able to see the products, taste them, and receive expert advice from our specialist staff. Since markets often also offer culinary options such as coffee or small seating areas, we created Speckbachers Deli as an additional feature. Here, customers can enjoy unique offerings that they might not find elsewhere. The deli presents a wide variety of culinary delights, adapted to the seasons and designed to be savored and enjoyed.”

“We offer a special weekly dish that is created by our kitchen team, led by Head Chef Christian and Sabine. Together, they develop ideas for the culinary highlights we want to present to our guests. Of course, every dish is carefully tasted by me before it makes its way onto the menu – which is obviously the hardest part of my job :)

Our menu is continuously adapted to the seasons and features unique flavor experiences such as chickpea curry or a teriyaki salmon trout bowl. For the autumn season, we are currently offering delicious specialties from our new Mountain Autumn menu, including yellow pumpkin curry with young corn and pearl barley patties, as well as an apple puff pastry tart made with Tyrolean apples.”

“‘Deli’ is short for "delicacies." The name is inspired by places like New York and Italy, where the combination of shopping and dining is very common.

Typically, these places offer small seating areas where guests can enjoy light dishes along with wine or coffee. This blend of a food shop and a cozy dining atmosphere is commonly referred to as a ‘deli.’

Our choice of the name ‘Deli’ reflects our goal of offering guests a diverse culinary experience where they can enjoy fine specialties – whether to take away or to enjoy on site.”

“At the Deli, we offer a variety of breakfast options to ensure the perfect start to the day. Our breakfast menus allow guests to choose from three basic styles: light and healthy, hearty, or sweet. In addition, there is a wide selection of both sweet and savory add-ons, so everyone can customize their breakfast to their own taste.

Our standard breakfast menu features popular classics as well as special favorites such as fried eggs, scrambled eggs, Eggs Benedict, and delicious porridge bowls.

The menu also includes dishes that are conveniently available to take away – at a reduced price.

Breakfast is served from Monday to Saturday, between 8:00 and 11:00.

“We have put together a wide range of events for the future, offering something for every taste. Our clear focus is on culinary experiences. We plan to further expand cooking classes, various tastings, and special gourmet days for both our guests and local residents. After all, enjoying great food is an essential part of any holiday experience.

Our cooking classes are ideal for groups and team-building activities. Learning new culinary skills together and then enjoying the results is a real highlight.

Our tastings give participants the opportunity to try a variety of exotic ingredients and learn how to turn them into delicious dishes. It’s a great way to discover new flavors and satisfy culinary curiosity.”

“Our goal is to bring people onto the stage who think differently about business and life. We want to offer start-ups a platform and give them the opportunity to present themselves publicly – even if profit maximization is not their primary focus.”

Alongside Andrea, the following inspiring speakers will also take part this year:

• Christian Schneider, who works with Lebenshilfe and breeds rare chicken breeds. He works closely with the animals while also supporting people with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to care for and work with them.
• Martin Iljazovic, founder of Kaffeetechnik Außerfern (coffee technology specialist) and butter-leaf GmbH. He is also a trained mechanical technician and a dedicated family man.

Both speakers bring a wealth of stories and aim to present a different perspective on business and entrepreneurship.

The event will be opened by young poetry slam artist Julia Anna-Maria Gruber, and wine expert Rosa Besler, who will be offering a wine tasting for the first time.

“The event is organized by Birgit Enk and Hannes Treichl and is part of a Tyrol-wide event series. This initiative is an important step toward promoting a diverse and inclusive economy and giving people with different perspectives a voice.”

“My daily work is very diverse and varied – no two days are the same. My responsibilities cover a wide range of areas, but my main focus is on marketing, sales, and the planning of various promotional activities. In addition to customer visits, my work for the Chamber of Commerce Reutte and the Reutte Nature Park Region is also an important part of my responsibilities.”

“When I took over the company together with my brother, I was in my early twenties, and I can honestly say that it took some time before I was taken seriously. This is an experience that many women in the business world share.

Over time, however, I became more confident and learned to assert my skills and expertise with self-assurance. Today, there are many more women who are courageous enough to start and successfully run their own businesses. Compared to 20 years ago, the situation has improved significantly.”

I would like to sincerely thank Andrea for the insightful interview and for sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s history. I’m also looking forward to the events and delicious culinary highlights that the future has in store.

Written by:

Jovana