Gerstner - a vast history
On the 24th of April 1847 Anton and Barbara Gerstner opened a small pastry shop in the heart of the city. Shortly after the opening, the nearby Imperial Court became one of the first regular clients and in 1873, Anton Gerstner was appointed Imperial Court Confectioner. Gerstner served official dinners, state receptions, and concert breaks in the Schoenbrunn Palace, and also managed and catered all events at the emperor's pavilion during the World Exhibition in the "Wiener Prater".
This was the beginning of a long success story.
Whether catering at the Emperor's pavilion during the World Exhibition in the "Wiener Prater" or on the occasion of the ratification of the Austrian treaty in the Belvedere Palace and the Schönbrunn Palace - Gerstner has always exceeded the highest culinary standards.
Since 1847 Gerstner has kept its pioneering spirit and is today a well-known gourmet empire. It is represented in the most famous Viennese locations, such as the Vienna State Opera (the partnership that began in 1869 still continues today, and in 2009 Gerstner catered the Vienna Opera Ball for the 53rd time), the "Wiener Musikverein" (Viennese Music Association), the "Kunsthistorisches Museum" (Art History Museum), the "Neue Burg" (New Hofburg Palace), the "Theatermuseum" (Austrian Theater Museum), and the "Völkerkundemuseum" (Museum of Ethnology). Since 2004, Gerstner has had exclusive responsibility for the catering of all technical, professional, and public fairs, banquets, and congresses in Vienna at the new "Messe- und Kongresszentrum Wien" (Vienna Exhibition and Congress Center). In 2006, Gerstner opened the modern La Cité café in Vienna's largest department store, Peek & Cloppenburg, where traditional sweet delights are presented in a contemporary context. Futhermore, Gerstner has two more exclusive event locations: "Art for Art Dekorationswerkstätten" (Decoration Workshops) and the Gerstner Beletage at the Palais Todesco.
The connection between Gerstner and Art is closer than ever. In 1994, Gerstner launched the "Gerstner Art & Delight Buffet" and in 2003 the "Gerstner Art Brunch" followed. These two events continue to be culinary highlights for tourists as well as Viennese citizens.
Chronology
1847 On April 24, Anton and Barbara Gerstner open a pastry shop in the heart of Vienna.
1869 Gerstner takes over buffets and catering at the former K & K Court Opera House, today the Vienna State Opera House.
A well-proven partnership over many years. In 2009, Gerstner serves the famous Viennese Opera Ball for the 53rd time.
1873 Gerstner is appointed „K & K Hofzuckerbäcker“ (Confectioner to the Imperial Court) and therefore, it increasingly serves official state dinners and receptions as well as concert break snacks at the Imperial Court. At the same time, the emperor assignes Gerstner to take over the culinary care of the Imperial as well as other pavilions at the world exhibition at the Vienna Prater. Gerstner starts its catering business at that time.
1989 Gerstner takes over the food operation at the Museum of Fine Arts (Café-Restaurant “Kuppelhalle”, special events and catering) and is taking a leading part at museum cafés and restaurant operations. In April 2002, the Business Magazine states that Gerstner at the Museum of Fine Arts ranks No. 2 out of the 10 “Great Gallery Restaurants” among museums worldwide.
1994 Gerstner launches “Kunst & Genuss” (Art and Delight) - fine buffet evenings at the Museum of Fine Arts and registers the name as a trademark. These evenings immediately become a culinary institution. Until today, “Kunst & Genuss” is very popular.
1995 A private investor group takes over the company to establish higher Gerstner standards. During this period, the main production moves from the café located in the heart of Vienna to the suburbs. The Café Gerstner is being renovated generously.
2000 Oliver W. Braun takes over all business agendas of Gerstner, with the target of stabilizing and reorganizing the company as well as expanding the portfolio without breaking with the vast Gerstner tradition, the high service standards as well as the high quality for which Gerstner is well known.
2003 With the opening of the music season, Gerstner starts to serve another very traditional location, the „Wiener Musikverein“, where each year the „Vienna New Years Concert“ takes place and is broadcasted worldwide.
In autumn 2003, Gerstner launches the “Kunstbrunch” at the Museum of Fine Arts.
2004 At the new exhibition and congress centre in Vienna, Gerstner takes over the new venture to exclusively serve public and trade fairs, banquets and congresses from 5 up to 25.000 guests as well as all other special events. The restaurants at the exhibition centre are available for other special occasions too.
At the same time all production sites and offices move to the exhibition centre.
2006 The long and successful cooperation with the Museum of Fine Arts is enlarged and Gerstner now serves events at locations affiliated to the Museum of Fine Arts: Neue Burg, Theatre Museum, Museum of Ethnology.
Gerstner caters a new location exclusively: Art for Art Dekorationswerkstätten im Wiener Arsenal.
The style café “La Cité” – Gerstner at P&C opens its doors at Vienna’s largest fashion house at the Mariahilfer Straße. The pastries, being produced according to old traditional recipes, are newly and trendy interpreted, due to the fashionable location.
2007 Gerstner Catering moves into its new headquarter at the Palais Clam-Gallas, coordinating all ceremonial rooms in the Palais. From there, the company also organizes all other events in outside locations. In addition, Gerstner introduces a new customer service feature - the “showroom-concept”. Gerstner presents its clients various catering examples in the ceremonial rooms of the Palais.
2008 Gerstner Catering moves into the Beletage in the Palais Todesco at the famous Kärntner Straße managing the magnificent premises for events there. The successful showroom concept is expanded. From there, the company also organizes all other events in outside locations.
2009 Gerstner show kitchen: dishes are prepared freshly on site; cookery workshops for companies.
During the past years, Gerstner turned into a company which works profitable. Gerstner has created a solid basis to expand its business on a long-term basis abroad.