Nature for the Senses: The "Sonnentor Kräuterhandels GmbH"

In 1988, SONNENTOR was founded by Johannes Gutmann, who then was the 23-years old managing director of the company. The young entrepreneur had an unusual business idea: He wanted to maket the herb specialities produced by organic farmers of Waldviertel, where he was born and where he had grown up, under the logo with the laughing sun (a medieval symbol of life and light with 24 rays which still decorate farm doors today) regionally, nationally and internationally. With that he was far ahead of the organic trend. An important characteristic of his idea right from the beginning was the processing of raw materials right on the farms where they are grown, in order to enable smaller farms to survive, to utilize the expertise and concientiousness of the farmers and in that way, accomplish the highest quality and traceability.

Ecology and Economy – complementing partners

Manual work and traditions add to the excellent quality of coffee and herb blends from Sonnentor and that’s how we would like to keep things. Specialization and manual work are the obvious and simple counteraction to the downward spiral of overproduction and rising prices in the agricultural market. We take on the regional responsibiliy for the Waldviertel and dispense with the automation in order to leave a big part of the profits to our farmers and the people in the region. Therefore, for Sonnentor fair trade starts right in their own house.
At present Sonnentor employs around 100+ staff and in addition to that the company, which is steadily growing, has around 120 suppliers, from organic farmers from the region and Eastern Austria to worldwide accredited and certified organic growers.

Manufactured in Waldviertel - available worldwide.

SONNENTOR Kräuterhandels GmbH is not only active on the Austrian market; some of the big markets include Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
The organic teas, coffee- and spice blends are also available in numerous counties outside Europe, including Canada, Japan, Bali / Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Australia and New Zealand.
In all, the specialities from Sonnentor are available in 40 countries – 90% of the total turnover goes into export. Since 1992, Sonnentor also has a branch in Cejkovice in Czech Republic, and since 2006, in Rhegin Transylvania, Romania. In these branches, products are not only distributed, but grown, particularly varieties which can’t be cultivated in the Waldviertel due to climatic conditions. As a traditional but innovative company, Sonnentor manages to combine organic farming, fair trade and natural taste.

From "One man show" to export success

The innovative Sonnentor branding strategie was recently awarded with the "Trio of the year" - The "Oscar of the Middle Class" , as this prize is referred to in Austria.
It was given away for the 14th time in November 2006. This price particularly acknowledges successful local businesses and their achievements for the Austrian economy.
The prize is awarded by the "Trade and Handicraft" department of the Chamber of Economics of Austria, the "Bank Austria Creditanstalt" and the Economics Magazine "Trend".
In 2006 the jury presented the desirable award to Johannes Gutmann, the managing director of SONNENTOR Kräuterhandels GmbH.