The nomination of Werner Lampert for “European Marketer of the Year 2026” is a special posthumous recognition of his life’s work.
On March 4, 2026, the European Marketing Confederation (EMC) announced the finalists for the 2026 European Marketer of the Year Award. Among the ten nominees from across Europe is Werner Lampert, who was nominated on behalf of Austria.
This nomination is a special recognition of work that goes far beyond traditional marketing.
Each year, EMC presents this award to individuals who have already been recognized as national marketing champions in their respective countries and who, in addition, demonstrate strategic excellence, sustainable business development, and strong market impact.
The fact that Werner Lampert is now among the finalists at the European level shows that sustainable marketing today means more than just visibility or sales performance. It is about direction, credibility, and the ability to combine economic success with social relevance.
Werner Lampert recognized early on that food cannot be considered in isolation from agriculture, the environment, animal welfare, and social responsibility. His work is characterized by the development of quality programs, the establishment of new standards for collaboration throughout the value chain, and a consistent integration of entrepreneurial thinking and sustainable development.
This approach is becoming increasingly important, especially at a time when many companies are seeking credible solutions to issues related to climate change, biodiversity, and supply chains. The nomination thus recognizes not only an individual achievement but also an understanding of marketing as a strategic force for transformation.
According to EMC, a total of ten leading marketers from Europe have been selected for the finals. The final decision will be made by a panel of experts as part of a multi-stage selection process. The European Marketer of the Year 2026 award ceremony will take place on April 23, 2026, in Vilnius as part of the LIMA Awards.
Simply being selected for this final round is a significant honor. It demonstrates that Austrian initiatives in the areas of strategic brand management and sustainable market development are also gaining recognition at the European level.
Werner Lampert has left his mark on the food industry far beyond Austria’s borders. He created well-known organic brands and demonstrated that organic products could move beyond their niche status and become part of people’s everyday lives. His greatest achievement was integrating quality, sustainability, and brand management in such a way that it not only led to successful products but also fostered a new understanding of the food industry.
It is precisely this philosophy that LAMPERT continues to uphold. Working alongside partners, the company develops practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and integrates sustainability into brand, product, and communication development. In this way, Werner Lampert’s vision lives on: not merely to describe the future of the food system, but to actively shape it.
The nomination thus recognizes not only his extraordinary life's work, but also the enduring relevance of his ideas, which are being consistently developed further at LAMPERT in collaboration with the team.