Fischer Sports celebrated its 90th anniversary at the Ried Exhibition Centre on Friday 26 September 2014. Beside the owners, the supervisory board and all members of staff, numerous guests of honour gladly accepted the invitation from the Upper Austrian family-owned company.
When journeyman wainwright Josef Fischer set up his own wagon-making business in a wooden barn in Ried im Innkreis in the year 1924 he never dreamt that 90 years on in the year 2014 his company would rank among the most successful family-owned businesses in Austria, employing some 460 people at the Ried headquarters alone.
Today it is his son and owner KR Josef Fischer who can look back with pride on the family’s lifetime achievements.In the corporate history book of Fischer Sports he says: “In order to understand the present day and judge the future you have to look back on things.And this applies to companies in particular.Tradition and the structures that have grown are the foundation upon which the present and the future are built.”And he knows what he is talking about, as he himself was at the helm of the successful family-owned company which celebrated its 90th anniversary last weekend in Ried im Innkreis.
Not only active athletes such as Nicole Hosp (AUT), Ivica Kostelic (CRO), Sandra Lahnsteiner (AUT), Axel Naglich (AUT), Thomas Morgenstern (AUT), Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT) but also former colleagues and Fischer legends including Sven Fischer (GER), Kristian Ghedina (ITA), Andreas Goldberger (AUT), Michael von Grünigen (SUI), Kathi Hölzl (GER), Toni Innauer (AUT), Hans Knauss (AUT), Ken Read (CAN), Bente Skari (NOR), Vegard Ulvang (NOR), Elena Välbe (RUS), Thomas Wassberg (SWE), Harti Weirather (AUT), Alexander Zavialov (RUS) made the evening one to remember.
The numerous milestones in the history of the company were presented in a colourful show. Groundbreaking innovations were featured together with the sport stars who helped to make the brand known throughout the world.
It was a time to eat, drink, dance, be happy and take a trip down memory lane.A History Walk created especially for the occasion brought models and memories from days long forgotten back to life again.The approach taken throughout was clear to see: continuous further development and investment in new technologies.This approach is omnipresent and an integral part of the corporate mission – as it has been from the very beginning.
“Fischer is the last major Austrian ski manufacturer which is still in 100% family ownership.The course was already set successfully for the future, too, a long time ago: Fischer has become firmly established as a supplier not only in the ski but also in the boot sector.The focus on our core segments – skiing hardware – and the absolute commitment to technology leadership are fixed in the genes of our company,” says Franz Föttinger, CEO Fischer Sports.
INFO: Fischer Sports
