Paletten Winter GmbH acquires Brekner Palettenlogistik GmbH: New location operates as Paletten Winter West GmbH (Hof am Leithaberge, September 17, 2026)
Paletten Winter GmbH, an Austrian family-owned company based in Hof am Leithaberge, has acquired Brekner Palettenlogistik GmbH in Weistrach effective September 1, 2026. The location will be integrated into the corporate group as a branch office in the future under the name Paletten Winter West GmbH, thereby expanding the Wintergroup's existing network of locations with another strategically important site in western Austria.
With this acquisition, the Wintergroup is establishing a strategically important location in western Austria. The focus here is not on growth for the sake of size. The goal is to preserve and further develop the existing strengths and grown structures of another family-run company and to complement them with the competencies of the Wintergroup. At the same time, the location is to be strengthened in the long term and the security of supply for existing customers as well as for companies in the surrounding region is to be further expanded.
Continuity for customers and business partners
Little will change in day-to-day business for the customers and business partners of Brekner Palettenlogistik: The familiar local contact persons will remain in place. The founding couple, Mr. and Mrs. Brekner, will also remain part of the team at the location and will continue to personally assist customers. Essential parts of the existing workforce and structures will also be taken over. Existing business relationships will be seamlessly continued in the spirit of continuity.
From the Wintergroup's perspective, the long-standing and stable customer relationships, the experience of the employees, and the regional anchoring form a valuable basis for further development. The intention is to consciously build upon these existing strengths. They will be supplemented by the experience and resources of the Wintergroup, particularly in the areas of automation, process structuring, quality, and additional services related to pallets.
Arthur Brekner and Franz Winter seal the acquisition. © Photo credit: Wintergroup
"It was important to us not simply to take over another location, but to build upon what has been created here over many years. This primarily includes the people, their experience, and the grown relationships with customers. We want to preserve these strengths and complement them with our capabilities. In this way, Paletten Winter West is intended to be a strong and reliable partner for existing customers and the entire region in the long term," explain Andrea and Franz Winter, management of the Wintergroup.
Structured integration process
A transition phase is planned for the integration of the new location until presumably December 31, 2027. During this period, existing procedures will be gradually transferred into the Wintergroup's processes, while ongoing operations and existing customer and business relationships will be continued unchanged.
The focus here is on a careful further development of the location. Proven structures are to be maintained and supplemented where the competencies and experiences of the Wintergroup create additional opportunities. Step by step, processes are to be further developed, quality and security of supply strengthened, and additional services made possible for existing and future customers.
About the Wintergroup
The Wintergroup is the umbrella brand of a family-run corporate group based in Hof am Leithaberge, firmly rooted in the pallet market since 1999. United by the raw material wood, the companies Paletten Winter, Hackgut Winter, Palettenlogistik Winter, and Winter Möbel operate under the umbrella of the Wintergroup:
- Paletten Winter produces and repairs pallets.
- Hackgut Winter specializes in woodchip production and forestry work.
- Paletten Logistik Winter operates a pallet depot and service center.
- Winter Möbel produces and rents sustainable pallet furniture.
As a family business, the Wintergroup combines many years of experience with continuous further development. The second generation is also already firmly anchored in the company and is taking on responsibility in key areas: Jakob Winter heads dispatch and the vehicle fleet, Johannes Winter heads the woodchips division, and Jonathan Winter heads the workshop and maintenance.
The Winter family together for the future of the Wintergroup: f.l.t.r. Johannes Winter, Andrea Winter, Jonathan Winter, Franz Winter, and Jakob Winter. Andrea and Franz Winter make up the management, and their sons Johannes, Jonathan, and Jakob work in the family business as the second generation. (Photo credit: Foto Amschl)
Automation and ongoing further development are just as much in focus as sustainability, which is lived practice throughout the entire corporate group.
With around 250 employees, the Wintergroup is one of the largest employers in the region. With the acquisition of Brekner Palettenlogistik and the establishment of Paletten Winter West GmbH, the Wintergroup is securing a strategically important location in western Austria and creating the basis to long-term preserve existing strengths and grown customer relationships and further develop them in a targeted manner with the competencies of the Wintergroup.
