Free range eggs
Because good quality simply tastes better. Truly excellent baked goods require excellent ingredients. Along flour and butter, this very much includes the eggs. And we only use eggs from certified free-range farms. Ölz der Meisterbäcker is the first Austrian international baked goods brand to guarantee the use of eggs from controlled free-range farms!
Eggs are key ingredient and important quality feature of our baked goods. We consider it part of our corporate responsibility to ensure animals are properly cared for and kept in appropriate conditions.
At Ölz we have decided to switch to using eggs from controlled free-range farms. This is simply the next step as part of our responsibility to improve animal welfare. Over 90% of our products are already made using certified free-range eggs. Our aim is to use only free-range eggs by 2024. But what does certified free-range even mean?
Certified free range eggs
How chickens are kept is important to the wellbeing of the animals. Free range means that each chicken has at least four square metres of space to themselves alongside a flocking area, poles to sit on, nesting areas and litter. This gives the hens space to behave naturally, move around and get natural sunlight and fresh air. At Ölz der Meisterbäcker, this is guaranteed by certification authority agroVet .
Certified origin
Alongside the living conditions of the animals, Ölz der Meisterbäcker receives eggs whose origin has been certified by agroVet. This guarantee of origin ensures that the 25 million eggs we use each year come exclusively from within the EU . Locally sourced raw materials is important to us. Wherever high-quality ingredients can be obtained, we will source these as locally as possible. For example, our Austrian Alpine milk, Austrian Alpine butter and local flour. We apply the same principle when sourcing our eggs.
Independent inspectors
Strict adherence to free range requirements and guaranteed origin rules are constantly monitored by recognised institutions such as independent inspectors agroVet . When it comes to monitoring: Ölz der Meisterbäcker leaves nothing to chance. All raw materials are monitored from the very start throughout the entire processing chain through to the finished product. Ölz’ quality management works continuously to further improve standards. And this is appreciated by external auditors. There is good reason why Ölz der Meisterbäcker as a whole is IFS certified to the highest level (IFS stands for International Food Standard).
Free range eggs for happier hens!
Ölz der Meisterbäcker took the lead back in 2009, switching to the use of eggs from penned hens. As an Austrian family-run company we are now taking the next step and have baked exclusively with free range eggs since 2022 in the interests of animal welfare. We inspire change with the conscious selection of raw materials.
Green Marketing Award 2023
The annual Green Marketing Award honours the most sustainable marketing activities in Austria. Ölz der Meisterbäcker took 1st prize in the Think Different category with the campaign ‘Free range eggs for happier hens’. The jury and consumers surveyed were particularly impressed by our status as the first European baked goods brand to focus on certified animal welfare – even beyond the requirements defined by law. We hope that the switch to free-range eggs will also inspire other companies to adopt sustainable strategies.
Ölz uses fresh whole egg from free-range hens in its baked goods. This is unprocessed egg which guarantees all the properties of the egg are preserved for use in baking. All of the eggs' nutritional value is also kept unchanged.
We use 25 million eggs every year for all of our Ölz bakery products. We use them to bake 58 million Ölz baked goods each year.
Cage rearing is one method and has been banned in Austria since 2009.
For barn eggs, the chickens live in a hen house and have perches and nesting boxes.
In free-range farming, the hen house is better equipped and the hens have access to an outdoor run, which must be at least 4 square meters per hen and offer growing vegetation. This allows the hens to express their natural habits, such as scratching and pecking outside in the fresh air.
Ölz products
Discover our delicious Ölz baked products – from breakfast pastries to cakes, toast and more!
We act sustainably
We are committed to preserving resources and to treating our environment with respect.
With a passion for the product, we are unwaveringly committed to the highest quality standards and sustainable methods.
