Prospects

Sabrina is a dedicated store manager with an impressive career at BIPA. Her journey began 15 years ago when she started her BIPA apprenticeship. With her determination and an eye for detail, she eventually rose to store manager and recently started running her own store. One absolute highlight in Sabrina’s professional career was the reopening of her own store after renovation. She most definitely describes this change as a challenge, but for Sabrina the moment when it opened was worth all the effort. One of the funniest memories Sabrina shared with us is her apprenticeship trip to France in 2011. This adventure not only led to valuable experiences, but also to many unforgettable moments. After all the years at BIPA that Sabrina has been able to pack with knowledge and experience, it is the highlight of her professional career and an honour for her to be able to pass on this knowledge. Sabrina has recently become a trainer for apprentices and has the opportunity to teach her apprentice everything there is to know about working at BIPA. Besides her love of working at BIPA, Sabrina’s great passion is sport. Whether it’s cycling, playing tennis or football, Sabrina can switch off perfectly when she is doing sport or meeting up with friends. In three words, Sabrina is sporty, helpful and ambitious. These qualities are not only reflected in her professional commitment, but also her positive attitude towards other people.
show less

Murat Ceper began his BILLA career in 2019 with an apprenticeship. As a model apprentice, he developed exceptional potential and in particular the motivation to take on a management role later on. This made him the perfect candidate for our “Zukunftstalente” aspiring managers programme, which he joined immediately after passing his final apprenticeship examination in 2022. He completed the programme in 2023 and has been working as an assistant store manager ever since. And who knows what else is waiting for him. With his positive attitude, he will overcome any challenges. Because as Murat Ceper himself says: “Even if something seems difficult at first glance... take another look at it!”
show less

“PENNY has always been the family’s place to shop and when a whole team was needed for the opening of a new store in 2006, I applied for a job as a store employee on my own initiative. As I originally come from the food service sector, I started at PENNY as a deputy store manager in a completely different sector and quickly developed my skills. Thanks to my great interest in retail and the activities that this exciting working environment involves, I was promoted to store manager within a short space of time. In addition to my work as a store manager, I also carried out internal training courses as a trainer, then worked as a fresh produce supervisor for a year and subsequently took on the role of district manager. In order to expand my practical experience with theoretical expertise, I completed a Master’s degree in Retail Management on the side. PENNY enabled me to concentrate on my studies alongside my very exciting and challenging job as a district manager. In addition to my interest in continuously developing myself and immersing myself in the world of the retail company in even more depth, my superiors in particular also supported me in taking on the position of sales manager after five years as a district manager. I have now been working at PENNY for 17 years in various positions and one thing has not changed since the beginning: If you want to make a difference at PENNY, if you want to contribute to something big, then you can really make a difference here. The flat hierarchies, the vibrant working environment and the team spirit among colleagues are what set PENNY apart as an employer. If someone had told me 17 years ago that I would become a sales manager at PENNY in Austria, I wouldn’t have believed it. Now it’s the other way round – I can positively influence employees on their career path and that makes me proud and my job very fulfilling.”
show less

"I've been with the company since 2009 and have been working in logistics since the beginning! I recognized my passion for the logistics sector during my school education and accordingly chose to specialize in industrial engineering in the field of "Supply Chain Management" during my studies. My further career? It all started with an internship in operational logistics at REWE. After graduating, I moved to the then newly established strategy department Project and Process Management for Logistics Austria. After a few years, I was able to take over the management of this department and lead a team of four. As a staff unit to the management of REWE L&T, I was able to gain insights into various subject areas. The daily variety in my professional life is what still excites me about project management today. Just recently, at the beginning of November 2023, I was put in charge of one of REWE Group's largest logistics projects! Why REWE exactly? Even back then, I thought to myself: "This is a company where I like to work!" - To this day, nothing has changed, which is why I've been happy at the company for 14 years now."
show less

“Take matters into your own hands and do something about it – it’s up to you,” is Marina Roscher’s advice. She has also taken this to heart and has an impressive BILLA career to show for it. Marina started as a retail apprentice in 1999 and was able to familiarise herself with the various areas of the business. In 2005, she took on the position of the “Fruit & Vegetables” section supervisor, which was followed six years later by a move to store manager. After gaining some experience as a manager, Marina turned to new challenges as a fresh produce manager. In 2021, she took the next step to become a fresh produce coordinator, and Marina has now been working as a sales manager for BILLA since 2022.
show less

“Having been a satisfied PENNY customer myself for a long time, I saw it as a great opportunity to opt for an apprenticeship at PENNY. After my three-year apprenticeship as a management assistant for retail services, I was given the opportunity to run a store as a deputy store manager. During this time, I learnt a lot of new things and was able to develop both professionally and personally. After four years in this role, I jumped at the chance to take on the position of store manager. In this challenging job, I first and foremost appreciate the support of my superiors and the great team spirit. I have now been working as a store manager for three years and am proud to say that I have been able to support the PENNY team in various positions for ten years. My colleagues and I master the day-to-day challenges together and are delighted to have satisfied customers who are happy to return to our store.”
show less

This motivation helped Sabine Künstner to succeed on her path from apprentice to fresh produce manager. In 2005, she started her BILLA apprenticeship, where she gained an insight into the various areas of the store. With this experience and full of drive and ambition, she completed our “Zukunftstalente” aspiring managers programme straight after her final apprenticeship examination and then became an assistant store manager. After this first experience as a manager, Sabine worked as a store manager in a BILLA store. In 2019, she took the next step in her career and took on a position as fresh produce manager.
show less

Eric Scharnitz is an excellent example of how apprentices at BILLA can go really far. In his more than 25 years with the company, he has already worked in a number of positions and got to know the company from the ground up. From 1995 to 1998, he completed his apprenticeship in retail and familiarised himself with the various areas of work in a BILLA store. Shortly after completing his apprenticeship, Eric Scharnitz progressed to gaining his first experience as a manager, namely as a store manager. He remained in this position for seven years until he took the next step in his career in 2007. He then worked as a sales manager until 2019. In 2020, he became Head of Sales. Eric Scharnitz is currently the Sales Director in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. He has held this high-profile position since 2020. “As an apprentice at BILLA, all doors are open to you – with a lot of hard work and motivation, the sky’s the limit for you in this company,” he confirms.
show less