Fifteen SPAR Austria apprentices explored sustainable cooking with Michelin-starred chef Paul Ivić at the SPAR Academy in Vienna. The workshop focused on biodiversity, the variety of produce, and a conscious, responsible approach to food.

During the workshop, SPAR and INTERSPAR apprentices discussed key questions: How do our shopping habits influence the food available to us? What impact do the origin, cultivation and production of food have on our health? And what should we consider when buying food?

Enjoyment with responsibility

The session began with a short theoretical introduction, highlighting the importance of understanding quality, origin and seasonal availability when making food choices.

Another key focus was appreciating food and the work involved in producing it. The apprentices experienced this mindful approach first-hand during the cooking session. Under the guidance of Paul Ivić, they peeled asparagus, shaped gnocchi and prepared a seasonal dish with a vegetable and herb sauce.

The Michelin-starred chef from Restaurant TIAN in Vienna also showed how so-called leftovers, such as asparagus peelings, can be turned into valuable ingredients, for example, as a flavourful base for stocks and broths. The workshop ended with a shared meal.

“Workshops like these are a great addition to our training. Some of the information was new to me, such as the fact that there are over 1,000 varieties of carrots and the importance of preserving the diversity of fruit and vegetables. I’m taking away a lot about sustainability in the food sector — both for my day-to-day work and for my private life,” said Sena Sulejmani, a second-year SPAR apprentice.

Future-oriented training in retail

The SPAR Academy in Vienna prepares around 350 talented young people for life and the world of work. Apprentices benefit from high-quality training and build a strong foundation for a wide range of career opportunities across the SPAR Austria Group.

The training goes far beyond traditional vocational school teaching. It combines specialist retail training with practical additional qualifications and places strong emphasis on the personal development of each student.

Source: SPAR Austria

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About SPAR Austria

The origins of the SPAR brand in Austria date back to 1954. The current SPAR AG was created in 1970 when the original founding families joined other regional wholesalers to form SPAR Austria AG, a 100% privately owned Austrian company. Company-owned stores operate throughout the country in the multi-format retail strategy developed since the 1960’s, whilst independent retailers operate under sub-license from SPAR Austria and continue building the brand’s presence.