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Success strategies of the companies of the century: A look at Salzburg!
On November 6, 2025, experts in Salzburg discussed the success strategies of long-standing companies and sustainable innovations.
Success strategies of the companies of the century: A look at Salzburg!
On November 6, 2025, around 100 guests gathered for the third and final “anniversary” business stage in Salzburg, which was organized by the Wüstenrot building society. The event was all about Wüstenrot's more than 100-year company history, which, according to... Leadersnet represents an exception in the global corporate landscape. Only about 1% of all companies achieve this remarkable lifespan, which made the discussion about it all the more exciting. Moderated by Marco Riebler from the Salzburger Nachrichten, various people, including Susanne Riess-Hahn (General Director Wüstenrot), Kristina Hammer (President of the Salzburg Festival), Bettina Ganghofer (Managing Director of Salzburg Airport) and Gerrit Woerle (Managing Director of the private cheese dairy Woerle), highlighted the success strategies of long-standing companies.
The focus of the discussion was on the success factors for entrepreneurial longevity and the challenges that the future brings with it. Riess-Hahn particularly emphasized the sustainability of Wüstenrot's business model. This topic is becoming more and more important, not only in the context of the anniversary, but also in society in general. How Clickatree analyses, consumers and investors are increasingly relying on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, which increases the pressure on companies to make their business models sustainable and authentic - without falling into the trap of greenwashing.
Tradition matters
The discussants agreed that tradition and innovation must go hand in hand. Kristina Hammer reported on how the Salzburg Festival manages to maintain this balance. Ganghofer also notes that passion and trust are essential ingredients in the recipe for long-term success. Salzburg Airport, which will celebrate its own 100th anniversary in 2026, plays a central role as the second largest airport in Austria.
Woerle, with a proud 136-year company history, emphasized the importance of quality and the use of sustainable raw materials. This illustrates how deeply rooted the topic of sustainability is in successful companies in order to establish themselves not only as a brand, but also in the minds of consumers.
A look into the future
During the anniversary year, Wüstenrot carried out various campaigns to present not only its own history, but also that of other traditional companies such as Zauner Konditorei, STARKL Gärtnerei and ÖBB. These discussions are intended to provide insights into proven recipes for success and challenges in today's world. Desert red emphasizes that customer proximity, continuous innovation and a responsible product range form the basis for ongoing success.
On the occasion of these discussions, the magazine “The Companies of the Century” was published, which contains interviews and articles about sustainable success. The magazine is not only available in print, but also digitally on the Wüstenrot website and is a valuable source of information for anyone interested in successful corporate strategies.
In view of the challenges and opportunities of the future, it is important to use the lessons from the past. The discussion about entrepreneurial activity today shows that sustainability is not just an option, but a central building block for long-term success.