The Salzburg Mozartkugel – A Homage to Genius and Craftsmanship

Chronicle & History of the Salzburg Mozartkugel

Confiserie Josef Holzermayr – a sixth-generation family business. The roots of today’s internationally renowned Confiserie Josef Holzermayr date back to the year 1865. At that time, the success story of a company that has preserved the highest craftsmanship for generations began in the small town of Werfen.

The family’s eldest son, Josef Holzermayr, worked as a gingerbread maker and confectioner at that time. Shortly thereafter, with great craftsmanship, he took over the traditional gingerbread house in Werfen, where he first produced and sold his hand-crafted sweet specialties. His diligence and passion for the confectionery trade soon made Josef Holzermayr known beyond the region: With his confectionery delicacies, he was represented at church festivals and farmers’ markets throughout the country.

Another significant milestone followed.

Josef Holzermayr was appointed Imperial and Royal Purveyor to the Court and was henceforth chosen to supply Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Archduke Eugen, and their high-ranking guests from all over the world with his sweet specialties. With nothing more than a simple handcart, yet filled with ambition and artisanal dedication, the committed confectioner regularly made his way to Hohenwerfen Fortress – an early testament to the reputation his products already enjoyed at that time.

The confectionery in Salzburg’s Old Town.

True to the company philosophy ‘Chocolate to Enjoy’, Rudolf Holzermayr opened the confectionery of the same name on Mozartplatz in Salzburg’s Old Town. From here, Holzermayr made it his mission to make his products accessible to a wide audience. From then on, Holzermayr was primarily occupied with the production and sale of his sweet specialties – lovingly handcrafted and according to proven recipes. Until 1930, the main house in Werfen served as the bakery for the sweet creations. The most popular products at that time included gingerbread, chocolates, candied fruits, finest bonbons, the Salzburg Mozartkugel, jams, and dessert pastries. His wife Elisabeth Holzermayr and his sister Maria Holzermayr diligently managed the business. A second pillar was the traditional confectionery wholesale business: From Salzburg, confectioneries, pastry chefs, gingerbread makers, and specialty confectionery shops were supplied with selected imported goods – above all, high-quality chocolate for further processing. 

The Salzburg Mozartkugel in the tradition of 1880 – R. Baumann – L. Karuth & Co – J. Holzermayr as the business successor at the historic Ludwig Viktorplatz.

In 1919, Rudolf Holzermayr moved his business from Getreidegasse and Mozartplatz to its current location at Alter Markt 7, then still called Ludwig Viktorplatz – directly opposite the traditional Café Tomaselli. There he took over the confectionery shop of the retired Louise Karuth, including the Salzburger Mozartkugel, whose tradition dates back to the business of Rudolf Baumann, who had already transferred his business in 1888 to his long-standing and proven employees had handed over. Confectioner Rudolf Baumann is considered one of the earliest documented marketers of the Salzburg Mozartkugel as exquisite chocolate-bonbons. The historical context reveals: the praline was probably a homage to the Mozart family, who regularly visited Café Tomaselli – the café with which Baumann had family ties. Today, the Salzburg Mozartkugel presents itself as a fine composition of pistachio marzipan, nougat, and dark chocolate, traditionally wrapped in silver-blue foil. At Confiserie Josef Holzermayr, this tradition of the Salzburg Mozartkugel is maintained to this day. Under the leadership of Rudolf Holzermayr with his wife Elisabeth and sister Maria, the Salzburg Mozartkugel was permanently added to the product range. 

A classic with character.

Today, the Salzburg Mozartkugel stands for a balanced, classic taste experience at the highest level of confectionery art – and thus clearly distinguishes itself from comparable products. In the production, the use of palm oil is deliberately avoided – out of conviction and with the aim of using only the best ingredients. Also, alcohol is not used in the recipe to enable an intercultural and cross-generational enjoyment.

Strong women in difficult times.

Maria Holzermayr, the owner’s sister, is particularly remembered for her dedicated and self-sacrificing management of the business during the difficult years of World War I and the crisis years from 1927 to 1933. For over 60 years, she dedicated herself to the company’s survival and, after World War II, significantly contributed through her good relations with the US armed forces to ensuring that both the supply of the population and the business itself functioned smoothly.

Expansion and succession.

From 1950, Elisabeth Holzermayr took over the Wittwenfortbetrieb at Alter Markt 7 and the confectionery wholesale business in Kaigasse 10. In 1967, Felix Holzermayr re-established the independent wholesale business for sweets and delicacies in Kaigasse 10. His son Felix Holzermayr now supplied specialist shops, confectioneries, and retailers in the city and state of Salzburg, in Pinzgau, and in Salzkammergut – primarily with the company’s flagship product: the specialtySalzburger Mozartkugel.

The sixth generation.

Today, the company is run by the family in the sixth generation. After Elisabeth Rossmann (née Holzermayr), her daughter Gabriele Truschner-Rossmann took over the management. Meanwhile, her son Alexander Truschner is also active in a leading position and continues the more than 160-year-old confectionery tradition with great care