Latest News

GMS GOURMET GmbH becomes the new leaseholder and will continue to run the café in the spirit of the family.

Café Tomaselli on the Alter Markt in Salzburg is one of the city’s most historic coffeehouses and is currently managed by Elisabeth Aigner from the owning family, who will retire in May 2026. To ensure business continuity, the owners conducted a structured process to arrange the operational succession. The goal was to find a partner who would uphold the values, tradition, and quality of the establishment while developing the business in a forward-looking manner. The owners were advised throughout this process by Robert Ehrenhöfer (RE Deal Advisory).

With GMS GOURMET GmbH, an experienced and reliable partner is taking over the operations of Café Tomaselli. GOURMET will continue to run the café as a classic traditional coffeehouse in the spirit of the family, with careful and gradual development over time. GOURMET is one of Austria’s largest gastronomy companies, operating renowned cafés and restaurants in Vienna, such as Café Schwarzenberg, the Wiener Rathauskeller, the Café-Restaurant at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and the heritage brand Gerstner.

“Café Tomaselli holds a special significance for Salzburg and its local community. It was therefore all the more important for us to find an experienced and reliable partner who will carry on the legacy of the house with respect for its history and in our spirit. With GOURMET, we know our café is in good hands,” say the representatives of the owning family.

“Our commitment is to preserve the identity and tradition of the café while bringing in our extensive experience from comparable, distinguished establishments. We are delighted to now also have a presence in Salzburg and to maintain the café as a beloved meeting place for the people of Salzburg and visitors to the city,” says Herbert Fuchs, Managing Director of GOURMET.

Proven Coffeehouse Culture in Salzburg’s Old Town Café Tomaselli, founded in 1700 and thus regarded as the oldest café in Austria, has always been an integral part of Salzburg’s coffeehouse culture. This heritage will continue to be preserved. The name and character of the establishment will remain unchanged, as will the familiar offering of cakes and pastries, classic snacks, and of course a variety of coffee specialities. For guests, the familiar coffeehouse experience will remain intact. Day-to-day operations will continue to be carried out by the kitchen and bakery staff who have shaped Café Tomaselli for years.

GOURMET stands for enjoyment, experience, and gastronomic expertise. The company is the market leader in contract catering in Austria and highly successfully operates gastronomy venues in Vienna, including the Wiener Rathauskeller, Café Schwarzenberg, Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker, and the Café & Restaurant at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. It also manages top event locations such as the Wiener Stadthalle, VIECON (Vienna Convention & Congress Center), and the Ernst Happel Stadium. Quality, safety, reliability, and sustainability are of particular importance. GOURMET is a subsidiary of VIVATIS Holding AG. More at www.gourmet.at