Due to dampened demand

Kitchen supplier now shortens the working week

Kitchen worktop specialist Strasser Steine has around 300 employees.

(Bild: Markus Wenzel)

With rising costs in all areas, buying a new kitchen was suddenly no longer so urgent! Strasser Steine, a manufacturer of natural stone kitchen worktops, also felt the effects of this rethink. Although sales climbed to record levels, the dip in demand is evident in production.

He speaks of a "challenging environment" and explains that in the previous year there were "in some cases sharp declines in the kitchen sector in Germany and Austria". Nevertheless, Johannes Artmayr also has reason to be pleased: "We increased turnover to 51.3 million euros in 2023."

We have good growth ahead of us. In five years, we'll have twice as much turnover - I'm sure of that.

Johannes Artmayr, Geschäftsführer Strasser Steine

The head of Strasser Steine, the manufacturer of natural stone kitchen worktops from St. Martin im Mühlkreis, admits that they had planned for more: "We're feeling the effects of this in production too, and are currently producing a little less than this time last year." This is why there is now a four-day week in some cases.

"The tactic has worked," says Strasser-Steine boss Johannes Artmayr, pleased with the high demand for the worktop innovation made from remnants and recycled material.

(Bild: Markus Wenzel)

New worktop made from recycled material and stone remnants is a "game changer"
But: According to Artmayr, there are good signs from retailers that demand is already picking up again. Strasser Steine is also scoring points here with a new product, a worktop made from recycled material such as feldspar mixed with natural stone remnants and binders. "A game changer," says Artmayr.

Stone experience world has to wait
The plans to build a stone adventure world in the Mühlviertel are on hold: "As soon as the markets pick up again, we will resume the project." The expansion of production was opened and put into operation in spring 2023.