Silver Medal of Honor for Josef Angelmayer: Recognition of a lifetime dedicated to the Viennese baking and confectionery trade

On July 6, 2026, Provincial Guild Master Josef Angelmayer was awarded the Silver Medal of Honor for Services to the City of Vienna at Vienna City Hall. Mayor and Governor Dr. Michael Ludwig presented the prestigious award to the long-time representative of the Viennese food trade.

Also honored was Dr. Alexander Biach, Director General of the Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS). The laudatory speeches were given by Peter Haubner, Second President of the National Council, and Dr. Kurt Schebesta, long-time Managing Director of the Vienna Bakers' and Confectioners' Guild and a close associate of Josef Angelmayer for many decades.

For over 40 years, Josef Angelmayer has run the traditional Café-Konditorei Angelmayer in Vienna's 15th district. In 1995, he opened an additional branch in the Meiselmarkt. With the high quality of his products and his expertise, he quickly earned an excellent reputation. His dedication initially led him to serve on examination boards for apprenticeship and master craftsman examinations, before he increasingly devoted himself to representing the interests of the confectionery trade.

Decades in the service of the industry

Following his election to the guild committee in 2001, Angelmayer became the Vienna Guild Master of Confectioners in 2005. In the course of the reorganization of the Chamber of Commerce, he initially assumed the role of industry guild master and, since 2012, has headed the Vienna Food Guild as its state guild master. He is also active in the Federal Guild Committee and the Federal Association of Austrian Confectioners.

During his many years as an official, Angelmayer provided important impetus for vocational training. He was particularly committed to the modernization of confectionery training, the greater integration of pastry making, and the development and establishment of the chocolatier profession. At the same time, he was always dedicated to the member businesses, whose concerns he represented with great reliability and objectivity.

Bridge builders between bakers and confectioners

In his laudatory speech, Dr. Kurt Schebesta particularly praised Angelmayer's ability to bring people and interests together. The long-serving guild manager emphasized that Angelmayer had always understood social partnership as a cornerstone of a functioning economic location and had conducted even difficult negotiations with composure, respect, and mutual appreciation.

His commitment to closer cooperation between bakers and confectioners had a particularly lasting impact. Even before legal changes facilitated the rapprochement of the two trades, Angelmayer took important steps: The confectioners' association office moved into the bakers' guildhall, the trade journals were merged, and the bakers' workshop could henceforth also be used for confectionery courses and master's examinations. This created synergies that continue to shape Viennese food craftsmanship to this day.

The traditional Confectioners' Ball also gained new prominence under Angelmayer's involvement. By moving to the Vienna Hofburg and merging with the Bakers' Ball, the event developed into an international showcase for the Austrian baking and confectionery trades. A further highlight was the Confectioners' Award, which he initiated, providing a platform for apprentices, journeymen, and master craftsmen to demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship.

Commitment far beyond the craft

In addition to his professional and political activities, Josef Angelmayer has been committed to social and community causes for many years. His involvement includes charitable projects benefiting Austrian Children's Villages and the Franciscan soup kitchen, as well as his decades of service with the Klosterneuburg Volunteer Fire Department . There, he served as commander and fire chief, leading more than 800 operations, including providing support to the Vienna Professional Fire Department during major fires.

For this extraordinary lifetime achievement, Josef Angelmayer has already received numerous honors, including the Silver Medal of Honor from the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, the Ring of Honor from the city of Klosterneuburg, and the professional title of Commercial Councilor. With the Silver Medal of Honor for Services to the City of Vienna, he now receives one of the highest awards of the state. It recognizes an entrepreneur, official, and bridge-builder who has significantly shaped and influenced the Viennese baking and confectionery trade for decades.