Bianca Schwarz und die Viba Nougat-Welt: Hintergrund, Geschichte, Erlebnisse und Engagement
„Napoleon is to blame,“ reckons Bianca Schwarz. „Although we should, of course, actually be grateful to him.“ Pardon? The Thuringian, former responsible for the marketing of the Viba sweets GmbH factory site, continues: „When the French emperor introduced absurdly high taxes on chocolate at the beginning of the 19th century, this left a sour taste in many people's mouths. They simply could no longer afford this sweet treat.“ Fortunately, some clever people invented an alternative: nougat, melted chocolate with a low cocoa content stretched with hazelnuts.
Viba is leading in Germany for high-quality original nougat praliné thanks to a history of more than 130 years. Yesterday's classic is certainly still in hot demand today - Germany- and, yes, even world-wide, although especially in the part of Germany that was formerly the GDR.
Historische Wurzeln und die Rolle von Bianca Schwarz
This idea also proved very popular at the coffee house established by the Viebahn siblings in Schmalkalden, a small town full of charming half-timbered houses. So popular, in fact, that they soon produced their own version. It was very successful, not least due to a friend's cigar rolling machine, which they converted to create a new, more compact shape: the company's famous nougat bars.
Ups and downs followed, and after Germany's reunification, the Viebahn Süßwaren company was eventually renamed to Viba. It launched a wide range of new products, established some new branches, and finally opened the Viba Nougat World in 2012. Close to Schmalkalden station, a completely new site with plenty of greenery and recreation areas as well as warehouses and offices was created on an initially rather unattractive plot within the scope of the Landesgartenschau horticultural show.
At its centre: the main building, dominated by glass, designed to look a little like a box of chocolates, which it certainly does, thanks to its oval shape and the huge bow in the Viba corporate colour ruby red that has been „tied“ around it. It definitely looks modern and welcoming. The same could be said about Bianca Schwarz, who has already worked for the company for over ten years.
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Die neue Erlebnis-Etage in Schmalkalden
Viba Nougat-Welt in Schmalkalden Wo jeder Chocolatier sein kann. Die neue Erlebnis-Etage von Viba ist eröffnet und lockt bei freiem Eintritt Gäste in den ersten Stock. Über ein Jahr war die Erlebnis-Etage in der Viba Nougat-Welt geschlossen. Etwa 120 000 Besucher kommen jährlich nach Schmalkalden in die Nougat-Welt. Mit der neuen Erlebnis-Etage peilt das Viba-Team 150 000 Gäste an.
The theoretical part is followed by the practical: an interactive exhibition one floor up. Besides information boards, game and quiz stations, you can also smell, feel and sample nuts and almonds there. Right, so that is the difference in taste between raw and roasted!
Architektur, Inszenierung und Timeline
On the way downstairs, you pass the timeline again. It is three metres long and illustrates the numerous highlights in the company's history. The focus on the east of the country, where the around 40 flagship stores are located, is also clearly explained in the film which the visitors can watch in the in-house cinema.
„After all,“ says Schwarz, „it's all about enjoying the taste, in keeping with our long-standing slogan 'Close your eyes and enjoy Viba', which you can do at the nougat fountain that tempts you with a never-ending supply.“ However, you should open your eyes again when you reach the area with the floor to ceiling windows where you can watch the confectioners at work behind the glass, shaping chocolate into footballs, Easter bunnies and unusual Prosecco bottles and decorating the finished shapes. Simply amazing.
Workshops: Vom Zuschauen zum Mitmachen
See what it‘s like to be a real Viba Master Confectioner when you create your own chocolate creations or finest nougat pralines. Book one of our daily workshops with other small groups or individuals for an unforgettable experience. Become a Viba Master Confectioner in a private workshop just for you and your guests.
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Want to be hands on? See what it’s like to be a real Viba Confectioner and book the full nougat & chocolate immersion in one of our workshops. It starts in the changing room, where white aprons and caps must be donned for hygiene reasons and the full-on confectioner experience. In the hands-on chocolate making area next door, long tables offer space for up to 50 people, although we're not as many today.
First of all, you choose your mould. Regardless of whether the individual chocolates are heart- or shell-shaped, or simply small squares: all of the moulds make fifteen. We fill half of each cavity with nougat. When we're ready to do the top half, Christina asks: „Whole milk or Ruby Chocolate?“ I choose the pink Ruby Chocolate, which was launched only a few years ago and has a subtle berry flavour.
So I hold the triangular piping bag underneath the tap on the right-hand side and fill it up. Then I cut a hole into the bag and quickly - speed is of the essence as the chocolate might otherwise harden - pipe the mix onto the pieces of nougat until the mould cavities are full to the brim. Christina motivates us: „Now make the whole thing dance,“ i.e. While the brown and pink chocolates cool down in the fridge, we busy ourselves with part two: shaping white and dark chocolate lollies by hand, without moulds.
This is the point at which our individual skill levels become apparent. Some of us create graceful flowers, others broken hearts. Fortunately, you can salvage your reputation as an artist with exercise number three: the now cooled down chocolates are ready to be decorated. Once again, you fill your piping bag with the chocolate of your choice for the finishing touches. „Some confectionery makers manage to squeeze twelve letters onto one chocolate,“ reveals Christina.
Either way: everyone is elated, and learns that they also make Advent calendars here, chocolate diplomas, i.e. certificates with a photo, and even offer gateaux decorating courses. Lone visitors can even spontaneously join one of the two workshops on offer every day, provided these are not fully booked. The workshop offer ranges from hen nights to school classes.
Lesen Sie auch: Testbericht: Side-by-Side Kühlschrank Schwarz
Gastronomie und Ladenwelt
Smooth nougat praliné, premium chocolates and finest handmade pralines - in our store you will find Germany’s no.1 Nougat and the whole range of Viba and HEILEMANN products. More compact products made by Viba can be purchased in the shop one floor down. The offer ranges from nougat to chocolate bars, chocolates, truffles, marzipan, baked goodies and nougat liqueur to gifts for all kinds of occasions.
Afterwards or in between, you may want to try some of the tasty creations of our restaurant. Be surprised by a large variety of sweet or savoury meals, snacks or desserts - many of them refined with nougat, of course. Enjoy a relaxed lunch break in our air-conditioned restaurant or take a seat on our sunny panoramic terrace with wide view over the park.
Our passionate kitchen team prepares all our food with fresh produce, partly from our own garden. There's always something happening at the Viba Nougat World. Besides special exhibitions, the busy programme also includes Sunday brunches and other foodie events, as well as major concerts with top artists.
Fernsehauftritt und Live-Küche
Ungewöhnliche Kombinationen in der „Viba“-Nougatwelt. Folge vom 27.11.2019: Ungewöhnliche Kombinationen in der „Viba“-Nougatwelt. Die moderne „VIBA Nougat Welt“ in Schmalkalden ist der heutige Schauplatz des Gastrowettstreits im Thüringer Wald. Bianca Schwarz wird den einen oder anderen mit den süßen Versuchungen verführen wollen. Mit unkomplizierten mediterranen Speisen soll die Showküche überzeugen!
Besucherzahlen, Ziele und Erlebnisangebote
Etwa 120 000 Besucher kommen jährlich nach Schmalkalden in die Nougat-Welt. Mit der neuen Erlebnis-Etage peilt das Viba-Team 150 000 Gäste an. The theoretical part is followed by the practical: an interactive exhibition one floor up. Besides information boards, game and quiz stations, you can also smell, feel and sample nuts and almonds there.
| Zahl/Aspekt | Beschreibung |
|---|---|
| Besucher pro Jahr | Etwa 120 000 |
| Ziel mit Erlebnis-Etage | 150 000 Gäste |
| Flagship-Stores | Focus on the east of the country, where the around 40 flagship stores are located |
| Workshop-Kapazität | Long tables offer space for up to 50 people |
Viba Park, Events und Familienfreundlichkeit
Well-fortified, you can then set off towards the Viba Park, which is dominated by - how could it be otherwise - numerous nut trees, and also includes an adventure playground. Schwarz's tip: „It's at its most beautiful when the roses are in bloom.“ Others might say: it's at it's most beautiful when the restaurant's ice cream counter is open.
Soziales Engagement: Spenden für den guten Zweck
Spendenübergabe in Schmalkalden Helfen tut gut! Wow! Wir sind sehr, sehr stolz, dem Kinderhospiz Mitteldeutschland knapp 11.000 € als Spende überreichen zu dürfen! Vielen Dank an alle, die uns bei der Spendenaktion fleißig unterstützten und diese fantastische Leistung mit uns möglich gemacht haben.
Der Spendenbetrag setzt sich aus verschiedenen Aktionen zusammen: Der Großteil kommt aus unserer Adventskalender-Aktion, bei der pro verkauftem Nussknacker-Kalender jeweils 1 Euro an das Hospiz ging. Die Tombola-Aktion zum 130 Jahre Viba Jubiläum sowie unsere Sammelbox, die am Empfang der Viba Nougat-Welt steht, tragen auch zu diesem beeindruckenden Spendenbeitrag bei.
Marcus Köhler, Fundraising und Kommunikation vom Kinderhospiz Mitteldeutschland, bekommt die Spende von Bianca Schwarz übergeben. Wir arbeiten seit mehr als sieben Jahren mit dem Kinderhospiz Mitteldeutschland zusammen und freuen uns, die Zusammenarbeit von Jahr zu Jahr zu intensivieren. Der Erstkontakt war 2016 auf der Hochzeitsmesse in Breitungen. Viba war damals Aussteller und sponserte mit dem Café Liebaug eine Nougatcreme Torte, der Erlös der Kuchenstücke ging an das Kinderhospiz. Das war der süße Ursprung.
Adventskalender-Spendenaktion wird fortgeführt Mit jedem verkauften Viba Adventskalender „Nussknacker“ spendet Viba 1 € an das Kinderhospiz Mitteldeutschland.
Store, Produkte und Mitbringsel
Smooth nougat praliné, premium chocolates and finest handmade pralines - in our store you will find Germany’s no.1 Nougat and the whole range of Viba and HEILEMANN products. The offer ranges from nougat to chocolate bars, chocolates, truffles, marzipan, baked goodies and nougat liqueur to gifts for all kinds of occasions.
Zitat und Leitmotiv des Genusses
„After all,“ says Schwarz, „it's all about enjoying the taste, in keeping with our long-standing slogan 'Close your eyes and enjoy Viba'.“
Service-Infos und Tipps für den Besuch
- Book one of our daily workshops with other small groups or individuals for an unforgettable experience.
- Lone visitors can even spontaneously join one of the two workshops on offer every day, provided these are not fully booked.
- Enjoy a relaxed lunch break in our air-conditioned restaurant or take a seat on our sunny panoramic terrace with wide view over the park.
- Besides special exhibitions, the busy programme also includes Sunday brunches and other foodie events, as well as major concerts with top artists.
tags: #Bianca #Schwarz #Viba #Nougat #Hintergrund #Informationen
