24 January 2023

Activity against food waste in Austria: Bakery 'Bäckerei Hager' in Lower Austria makes new products from old bread and calls it 'Comebäck' bread

In Austria, the people are impacted by the inflation and the effects of the war in Ukraine. But every challenge is also a chance, as proven by a bakery in Lower Austria which makes new products from old bread. The federal state Lower Austria is currently in political campaign mode. Problems with the health system and accusations against politicians of the leading party filled in the last weeks the columns of the newspapers which are known for reshuffling with opinion-forming the cards for elections. Positive news like the one about the Bäckerei Hager are rare in times of political campaigns.

Bäckerei Hager's new product is partly made of old bread from the day before. It is named 'Comebäck', a word creation of 'comeback' and 'bäck' from the German word 'Gebäck' (baked goods). Around 20% of the Comebäck bread comes from the bakery's overproduction. The old bread is shaved in fine crumbs and roasted at 100° C before being used as an ingredient of the new product which keeps well for another 2 to 3 days.

Additionally to the new bread, Bäckerei Hager opened on 23 January 2023 a new shop at the main train station of the capital of Lower Austria, St. Pölten with the 'Gutes von Gestern' range, which means translated 'Good things from yesterday'. The bakery offers sweet and savory baked goods that are still tasty a day later and up to 60% cheaper.

Images, from left: 'Comebäck' bread by the bakery chain Bäckerei Hager and view at the new shop 'Gutes von Gestern' at the St. Pöltner Hauptbahnhof in Lower Austria. Photos: © Philipp Lipiarski / www.lipiarski.com.