SPAR Austria transforms historic bank building into modern hypermarket

June 2, 2021 IN THE CATEGORY: Store openings

SPAR Austria has opened a new INTERSPAR Hypermarket in the former headquarters of the Viennese Association of Banks, a stunning historic building in the first district of Austria’s capital city. Following three years of planning and renovation and an investment of € 10 million, the ultra-modern hypermarket is breathing new life into the former bank halls, creating 160 jobs in the process.

Opened on 26 May, the flagship store features a sales area of 1,770m² and a comprehensive assortment. In addition, the new MEZZANIN restaurant, the first à la carte INTERSPAR restaurant, offers customers premium meals to eat in or take away. 

“We have brought together the best food products and our most competent employees in this unique store. The new INTERSPAR store at the Schottentor in the heart of Vienna is a real attraction for the city”, said SPAR Austria Board member Markus Kaser.

Daily food shopping and delicacies

“With our new INTERSPAR Hypermarket, we want to cater to every type of customer. This is also evident in the range. We have combined the best products from the INTERSPAR and SPAR-Gourmet ranges. We offer value products including S-BUDGET as well as exclusive champagne”, said Johannes Holzleitner, Managing Director of INTERSPAR Austria.

Store highlights include the most extensive INTERSPAR range of vegan and vegetarian products, the TANN meat department, and fresh fish from regional fish farms. In addition, fresh pasta is delivered daily from a Viennese factory.

Specialties from local Viennese suppliers and small food producers from Austria’s federal states offer customers an extensive choice, whatever their shopping mission is. Fruit and vegetables are also sourced locally and complemented by fresh products from the largest fresh market in Vienna. The innovative filling station for cereals, nuts, and pasta completes the range.

Food-to-go

Food-to-go solutions located near the store entrance area account for roughly a third of the store’s assortment.

“We offer students and employees of surrounding offices enjoyable alternatives to sandwiches. In the Market Kitchen, customers can find a rotisserie, soups, and service and self-service bowls. The INTERSPAR bakery offers an extensive choice of freshly baked bread rolls and focaccia. In addition, we offer fresh sushi at the Eat Happy sushi kitchen, made using local fish. A real paradise for food lovers”, continued Johannes Holzleitner.

MEZZANIN restaurant and bar

With 80 catering establishments, INTERSPAR is one of the largest restaurateurs in Austria.

“As the historic former bank building has an exceptional ambience, we decided to introduce a full service à la carte restaurant. We offer our guests traditional Austrian cuisine in a modern and creative way, with regional and seasonal highlights”, said Michaela Kaspar, Deputy Managing Director INTERSPAR Austria, responsible for the catering area.

Highlights of the new INTERSPAR at the Schottentor

  • Retail sales area of 1,770 m²
  • 160 new jobs
  • Great shopping ambience in a historic building
  • Largest Market Kitchen in Austria
  • Most extensive vegan and vegetarian range of all INTERSPAR Hypermarkets
  • 850 wines and sparkling wines
  • Full range of groceries and selected non-food products
  • First INTERSPAR à la carte restaurant
  • 447 products from 94 local suppliers

Source: SPAR Austria

Read more news from SPAR Austria.


About SPAR Austria

The origins of SPAR in Austria date back to 1954, but the current SPAR AG was created in 1970 when the original founding families joined with other regional wholesalers to form SPAR Austria AG – a 100% privately owned Austrian company.

With licences granted by SPAR International, ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) has developed SPAR in Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, and Northern Italy. With sales of €8.3 billion and impressive growth of 16%, SPAR Austria became the market leader in the Austrian grocery trade during 2020, after being a market growth leader for over a decade.