Aramark to be new catering partner from 2025/26

Aramark will take over Austria Wien's catering services at the start of the 2025/26 season. The internationally active company is one of the world's leading providers of sports and event catering and serves clubs such as FC Barcelona, Everton FC and several German clubs, including Hamburger SV and VfB Stuttgart.

Aramark prevailed against numerous well-known competitors in a Europe-wide tender and convinced Austria Wien with a comprehensive concept. This partnership marks Aramark's first foray into the Austrian market. "We are very much looking forward to a good and cooperative partnership in the Generali-Arena. It is a big step for us to become active in Austria and we will focus on meeting the high local standards," explains Arnd Rune Thomas, CEO of Aramark Germany.

CFO Harald Zagiczek is also positive about the collaboration and emphasises the importance of the new partner: "If you want to be a caterer for Austria Wien, you have to be aware that we want to meet the highest demands of our fans and partners. We have been providing the best hospitality services in the country for years and always strive to improve ourselves. Aramark has impressed us at all levels and we are looking forward to working with them. With Aramark, we have been able to gain a globally active group for Austria that is intensively involved with us, our identity and our roots."

Aramark impresses with its holistic concept

Numerous renowned catering companies from Germany and abroad applied for the tender. The large number and quality of the concepts submitted reflected the great interest in Austria Wien and the Generali-Arena. Applicants were able to apply for one or more of the three advertised lots (1. Hospitality, 2. Public, 3. Viola Pub). During the evaluation, particular attention was paid to the quality of the culinary offer in the respective areas. Economic criteria and possible synergies were also taken into account in the decision-making process to ensure objective comparability.

‘During the tendering process, we involved our committees intensively in order to make a decision that is supported by everyone - especially by those colleagues who interact with the caterer, our fans and partners on a daily basis,’ Harald Zagiczek continues. Aramark was particularly convincing with its comprehensive concept across all three lots.

Fresh, local & at the highest level: preparation in the stadium

Austria Wien and Aramark have already forged far-reaching plans for the initial twelve-year collaboration. In future, all meals will be freshly prepared directly in the stadium. ‘We want to meet the high quality standards of the guests in the Generali-Arena and therefore place great value on freshness and craftsmanship,’ emphasises Axel Geerken, Director Business Development Sport & Event Catering at Aramark.

Extensive remodelling is also planned in several areas. In future, the stadium will also be used even more for smaller and larger events outside of football. Austria Wien and Aramark are consciously focusing on dialogue with fans and partners in order to create a culinary experience that meets the needs of all visitors - whether in the public area or as VIP guests - and sets new standards.

Many thanks to DO & CO

In the course of the upcoming change, Austria Wien would like to express its sincere thanks to its previous catering partner DO & CO, which will continue to support the club until the end of the current season. Since moving into the new Generali-Arena in the 2018/19 season, DO & CO has served the club's fans and partners at the highest culinary level. ‘Our high culinary standards have grown continuously over the past few years with this partnership - on behalf of the club and on behalf of our fans and partners, we would like to sincerely thank DO & CO and all of its employees,’ concludes Harald Zagiczek.

About Aramark

As a full-service caterer, Aramark is one of the leading service providers on the German-speaking market. Based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany's second-largest catering company serves over 500 customers in the Workplace Experience and Health & Care segments. In the ‘Sport & Event Catering’ segment, it serves around 20 stadiums, arenas, event locations, zoos and trade fair venues. In addition, Aramark Refreshment Services supplies around 6,000 companies at over 10,000 locations.