Anyone who knows Linz knows the Linzer Torte. And anyone who knows the Linzer Torte usually also knows the Jindrak confectionery. The family business has been pampering guests with the sweet delicacy at Herrenstrasse 22 since 1929. Over the years, more locations have been added, and there are now nine in Linz and the surrounding area. However, one of them now has to go into “hibernation”. There is simply a lack of staff, as master pastry chef Leo Jindrak explains in an interview with KURIER.
He employs around 160 people in total. “We definitely need five more people. About four in service and one or two in sales. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it still tweaks here and there,” complains Jindrak. The reason for the bottleneck is not the payment. His employees even get 100 percent bonuses for Sundays. “It’s because people just want to work less.”
Part time
Many would only want to work part-time or only in the morning. “But that doesn’t work. We have opening times from 8:30 to 6:00 pm,” says Jindrak. He quit nobody during Corona. The uncertainty in the industry would have added its last.
All of this now leads to a drastic step: One branch, the one on Pöstlingberg, is put into “hibernation”. The employees working there are meanwhile divided into other branches. Because Christmas time is the main season at Jindrak, at least that way you can relieve the other locations.
Reduces sales
“This is an entrepreneurial step. We tried to find the lowest possible denominator. Where do I harm myself the least.” Jindrak has lost sales due to the rent, which he still has to pay.
Jindrak calms down, however: “The traditional confectionery Jindrak does not close. As soon as we get people, we will reopen on Pöstlingberg.” In spring at the latest, he assures us. Yet: “If a brand like Jindrak gets into a vortex, that’s a sign,” says the master confectioner.
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