Werner Lampert: He brought organic products out of the niche
“Organic food in Austria clearly has a visionary in Werner Lampert,”
— President Van der Bellen, July 2019
1946-
Werner Lampert
Successful organic brands
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Years of experience in organic farming
Founding of LAMPERT
His motivation.
But what did Werner Lampert do to earn such respect? What drove this extraordinary mind?
As soon as Werner Lampert entered a room, his unyielding determination and zest for life were immediately apparent. He exuded a zeal and drive that were second to none. He drew his strength from an inner conviction—his mission was to lead agriculture out of its impasse and set in motion a sustainable momentum.
Foresight led to success
When Werner Lampert, a pioneer in sustainability and environmentalism, first started selling organic food in the early 1980s, it was a niche product. Organic food had a stuffy, old-fashioned image.
He wasn’t deterred, because for him, organic food was more than just a business idea. He wanted to fundamentally change the way we produce and consume food.
Yes! Of course
With Ja! Natürlich, he brought organic food to the places where people shopped every day—the retail sector (now Billa / REWE)—in 1994. For the first time, organic became socially acceptable and affordable for the masses. Twelve years later, in 2006, he took the next bold step and partnered with the discount retailer HOFER (ALDI SÜD Austria). Despite criticism that organic products had no place in a discount store, he stubbornly continued on his path.
Back to the beginning
The newly launched brand is based on the comprehensive LAMPERT standard, with its eight core values—including regional sourcing, environmental protection, and animal welfare—and ensures end-to-end transparency through the LAMPERT database. In addition, the brand has succeeded in reviving hay-fed milk in Austria and bringing it to grocery stores as drinking milk for the first time.
Our standard.
Mature organic market
With “Zurück zum Ursprung” and “Ja! Natürlich,” Werner Lampert not only created two of Europe’s best-known organic brands, but also had a lasting impact on the organic market. In 2025, he was rightly honored with the Marketing Leader Award for this achievement. Today, a quarter of Austria’s agriculture is organic. This development would have been unthinkable without Lampert’s pioneering spirit.
It continues to shape the LAMPERT company to this day.
“His philosophy remains our guiding principle: having the courage to look more closely, to break new ground—and not merely to preserve what is good, but to shape it. For us at LAMPERT, this means carrying on his vision—with the same determination, passion, and conviction with which he began it.”
Brigitte Hanzmann-Frodl, Managing Director
Anyone who had the good fortune to know Werner Lampert personally was inspired by his determination, steadfastness, and clarity. That is what sets the LAMPERT company apart from all others.
His innovative spirit and high standards of quality were, and will continue to be, an integral part of the company’s philosophy. We had the privilege of working with him, and we are carrying on his legacy into the future with enthusiasm and energy.
