Gerhard Höllinger in front of the tank farm with two apple juice cartons in his hands

Naturally cloudy apple juice

Frost damage and climate change are hitting fruit growers and producers hard, which also has a direct impact on the costs of our apple products.

All information about the 2024 apple harvest and the associated challenges for production and sustainability.

Gerhard Höllinger gave interviews on this topic in Krone and Kurier at the end of 2024.

Overview of the 2024 apple harvest at Höllinger

The 2024 apple harvest presents us with major challenges at IMS Höllinger. With a 65 percent drop in Styria, the main growing area for the Styrian apple, which we use for our Naturally cloudy apple juice and a global decline of 54 percent, we are forced to adapt to the new conditions. Frost damage and climate change are hitting fruit growers hard, which also has a direct impact on the cost of our apple products.

The price per kilo of Styrian apples that we use for our cloudy apple juice has risen to around 30 cents. Since around 1,3 kilograms of apples are needed for one liter of cloudy apple juice, prices on the shelf are inevitably higher. Our Styrian apple juice is currently available for 2,99 euros per liter and meets the highest quality standards. Despite this price increase, our goal remains to offer high-quality, sustainably produced products and to enable customers to cloudy apple juice made from carefully selected ingredients.

As a family business based in Pressbaum, we are proud that our fruit juice from Austria is valued both by domestic customers and internationally. Especially in times of rising production costs and pressure from retail chains' own brands, we rely on innovation and quality to stand out in the market. Our strength lies in exports: today our fruit juices are represented in over 40 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and the Seychelles. The demand for our Styrian apple juice remains constant, especially in regions where apples are in short supply and consumers want to buy high-quality apple juice.

Another topic that will concern us in the near future is the deposit system in Austria, which will be introduced on beverage packaging from 2025. For smaller companies like ours, this means significant financial and logistical adjustments. The deposit system will result in additional costs for our exports in particular, as we will have to introduce individual packaging solutions for different markets.

We at Höllinger will continue to do everything in our power to maintain our high quality standards and at the same time respond to changing market conditions. Sustainability and regionality remain core values for us, while at the same time we focus on a sustainable and growth-oriented development of our business at home and abroad. Whether you buy cloudy apple juice or you want to be surprised by our wide range of offers - we are your reliable partner for high-quality, sustainable products.