They are a world-famous specialty: Mozart balls. A manufacturer of these confectionery is now insolvent. Because of the Corona crisis, tourists stayed away who bought the bullets. The future of the company is open.

The producer of the “Echte Mozartkugeln Salzburg”, the company Salzburg Schokolade, is broke. Corresponding insolvency proceedings at the Salzburg Regional Court were opened on Tuesday.

It is said that around 140 employees and 600 creditors are affected by the bankruptcy. The reason for the bankruptcy is the corona crisis, writes managing director Christian Schügerl in an email to employees, from which several media cite.

Future of the company unclear

Due to the significant decline in tourists, events and birthday or wedding celebrations, the demand for the company’s confectionery has declined, which depressed sales, according to Schügerl. In addition, the confectionery shops in Vienna and Salzburg that sold the Mirabell balls were temporarily closed due to the Corona crisis. Even the state aid to corona and new export customers could not absorb this.

“The current lockdown and cost increases for raw materials, energy, wages, logistics costs and packaging materials were further reasons,” Schügerl continued in the mail.

The Salzburg Chocolate company is now trying to reorganize itself. Whether and how this is possible is still to be checked. A continuation forecast presented, however, turns out to be negative.

More chocolates on offer

The company produces the unique Mozart balls under the Mirabell brand for the US company Mondelez. But it is not the only one.

Because Mozart balls are not legally protected. The inventor is the Fürst confectionery. What the inventor’s great-great-grandson says about the competitor’s bankruptcy, read here.

There are also numerous companies that produce chocolate, marzipan, pistachio and nougat balls, such as Lindt & Sprüngli, Halloren and Manner. The German praline producer Paul Reber is the global market leader.

Other companies also produce for Mondelez. In addition to the Mozartkugeln, Salzburg Schokolade also produces the “Maria-Theresia-Taler” or pralines under the “Salzburg Confisérie” brand.

At the request of t-online on Wednesday, Mondelez said that they were informed about the bankruptcy. “We are entering into an exchange with the company Salzburg Schokolade and will evaluate the next steps,” it says. Mondelez cannot say more about the current situation.