Billa (supermarket)

The Billa AG (proper spelling BILLA ) is an Austrian department store chain, which is part of the Rewe International. The headquarters is located in Wiener Neudorf, Lower Austria.

The end of 2012 Billa operates in Austria 1,027 stores with 18,400 employees and has a market share of 17 percent.

History

1953 Opened Karl Wlaschek of Vienna in a perfumery and offered brand products at discounted prices. As a result, the merchandise trade was Karl Wlaschek ( WKW ) and comprised 45 branches by 1960. Wlaschek transferred the concept to the food industry, introduced the self-service system and called his stores from 1961 BILLA ( for "Cheaper Charging").

Through the purchase of the supplier of compression of the branch network and the expansion of supply ( organic products, travel) Billa continued to grow. In 1967, Wlaschek Mercury, 1977, he acquired the company Litega and sports Klepp. In 1978, the book discounters Libro, later founded some time, the discount chain Mondo. The consolidated to Billa, BIPA ( " Cheap Perfume " ), Mercury, Mondo (later Penny) and Litega was born.

In 1993, Billa leads in Austria comprehensively the scanner checkouts and the Group achieved a turnover of 50 billion shillings. In July 1996 the BML Group was ( for Billa, Merkur and Litega ) trading as BML Wealth Management Ltd., also known as " Billa - group ", taken from the Rewe Group, one of the largest food retailer in Europe. 1998 achieved Billa with about 25,000 employees generated sales of 4.4 billion euros. Until December 2011 Billa was able to expand its branch network to 1005 branches throughout Austria

Rewe led after purchase next Billa the other sales divisions of the BML Group further: besides the Mondo branches that went up in Penny stores, kept all the department store chains her name. In recent years, the travel agency ITS Billa Travel has been introduced. In addition, the REWE Group Austria since 2003 with 24.9% of Vorarlberg food and restaurant chain Sutterlüty involved.

On the Italian market, Rewe Group Austria has around 150 Billa and Standa stores. The company supplies the four regions of Veneto, Friuli -Venezia Giulia, Emilia -Romagna and Trentino -Alto Adige.

Euro Billa leads a team of approximately 45 employees in Wiener Neudorf, the Central and Eastern European businesses, currently with over 300 Billa stores in Romania, Czech Republic, Russia, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria ( 47 ) and Ukraine represented. In August 2006, the miniMal stores were renamed in Poland in Billa.

From 1977 to 1992, belonged Litega with its subsidiaries, in which linoleum flooring products, textiles, curtains and mattresses have been sold to the Consolidated and formed the L in BML. Also, this center was in Wiener Neudorf. In 2004, since 1992 no longer BML owned company was liquidated.

Since about 2004, the stores will be rebuilt as part of a " branch offensive " according to modern standards with contemporary interior design. The company says about 60 stores will be subjected to such a refreshment per year. 2005, a customer loyalty program with the Billa advantage club card has been inserted. In 2007, as part of a new corporate strategy with the " common sense " a new testimonial and with it the slogan " Billa, says the common sense " presented. In the same train the branch staff received a new work wear. Also since 2007, the branches on 8 December, the shops are open for holiday in Austria, closed.

2012, the first eco- store was opened in Perchtoldsdorf. You should compared to the 400 already energy-efficient stores, cause even more energy savings; also a photovoltaic system was installed.

Own brands

Add to Billa stores the following private labels are sold: the discount line Clever, the winery Wegenstein, the organic line Yes! Of course, and the ready meal line boss menu. Travel trips are offered under the brand founded in 1998, ITS Billa. 2011, a new own brand called BILLA has been introduced. In return, the private brand quality first but was taken out of the Billa - range short-term.

Branch types

• Billa Classic ( classic neighborhood stores, by far the most common type branch, about 600 private label )
• Billa Corso ( flagship store, an expanded and mostly exquisiteres / more expensive range of the traditional products )
• Billa Stop & Shop ( smaller stores to Jet petrol stations )
• Billa Box (since 2009, only leads meals, drinks and snacks)

Criticism

2007 Greenpeace found in a sample of table grapes from Billa pesticides, which had exceeded the reference dose by a factor of 2.6.