The Breton, the Walser and their organic cookie factory

Cookies. Who doesn't love them? They are usually sweet and have calories. But if you're going to have a cookie, then it should be wholesome, organic and regional - and taste really good. That's exactly what Sabine and Xavier, who run their organic cookie factory in the Großes Walsertal, thought. The origin of the ingredients and transparency towards their customers are particularly important to the Walser and the Breton*. However, it takes time to develop unique recipes that meet the high quality standards and taste great. The two are happy to take this time and work on the perfect cookie recipes. Their enthusiasm for new things, their love of work, craftsmanship and nature drives them on and motivates them. In addition to sweet cookies, the range also includes savory mountain cheese snacks, as well as a vegan cookie variety.

The organic cookie factory is located in the small municipality of Raggal in the Großes Walsertal biosphere reserve. It is also a venue for hosting art exhibitions and smaller events.

After the first taste of the delicious organic cookies, it quickly becomes clear that there is a special story behind them. I want to get to the bottom of it and visit Sabine and Xavier in their factory. Curious as I am, I start at the very beginning. I'm interested in how Sabine, from a small village in the Großes Walsertal and Xavier, from Brittany in France, got to know each other. "In another Walser village, namely Brand! Xavier was still living in Zurich at the time," smiles Sabine. His interest in Sabine and the region was great and it soon became clear that the two belonged together. "Xavier has always been a traveler. In addition to Zurich, he also lived in London and Ireland for a long time," he told. So the move to the Große Walsertal was not difficult for him. "I haven't been back home for a long time, but Brittany is where my soul is at home," adds Xavier.

In 2015, the two took part in a workshop on regional tourism development in the Großes Walsertal biosphere reserve. Even then, they secretly had the idea of their own manufactory in mind. When the thought came up during the event that a regional cookie would be perfect with a good coffee, Sabine and Xavier said: "Yes, we'll do it!" That was the beginning of an extraordinary story.

"It was important to us to build something together. We love cooking, baking and good food," Sabine tells me. So it made sense for them to dedicate themselves to organic cookies. Xavier, a trained patissier with many years of experience at an international food company, had had the idea in his head for some time. "During this workshop, we realized that we really wanted to make it happen," the two of them explain. I'm impressed – that really takes courage!

The two of them are passionate about consciously interacting with nature and the food it gives us. "We didn't want to make ordinary cookies, but organic cookies. This also fits in perfectly with the biosphere reserve in which we live," Sabine emphasizes.

"We actually produced our first cookies in the St. Gerold provost's office," they recall. However, they soon had to find a new location. For a long time, they rented premises in the Walserhalle and in the Bregenzerwald. In November 2019, Sabine and Xavier finally decided to return to Raggal and set up their own manufactory. Said and done! The conversion work began in March 2020, and in October of the same year they opened their organic cookie factory and coffee shop in Raggal. "We built everything ourselves. It was an intensive time, but now we're in a stable position," they report proudly. But we wish there was more support for start-ups in Vorarlberg than just office space, they add.

Sabine, originally an occupational therapist, likes to spend her free time in nature or in the kitchen - baking is her great passion. As a career changer, she had to acquire the necessary knowledge herself. "I acquired a good basic foundation of knowledge through a confectionery course at Wifi Graz," she tells me.

Curious, I ask what a typical working day looks like for them. "We do a lot of things together, but there are also tasks that either Xavier or I do alone," they say. Sabine is mainly responsible for public relations and communication. Xavier is the expert in recipe development and production. "But we always decide everything together. There are also recipes that come from me, such as the vegan cookie or the chocolate cookie," Sabine adds. I quickly realize that the two of them are a well-coordinated team that complements each other perfectly.

The path to his own organic cookie factory was not always easy. In addition to Xavier's language barriers and the search for a suitable location, the bureaucracy was also a challenge.

"Is it still just the two of you?" I ask. "Yes, at the moment, but it's starting slowly. We might need help with the store and production soon," they both reply. All the cookies are produced in Raggal, and Sabine and Xavier have handled every pack at least once.

I ask what regionality means to them. "For us, organic has top priority, even before regionality. As long as the products are organic, regionality can sometimes be defined more broadly," Sabine replies. For example, they source chocolate from overseas or apples from Styria. It is important to both of them that they know all of their suppliers personally and know where the food comes from.

When asked why regionality is so important, their answer is clear: "Firstly because of climate protection, and secondly to support local businesses. We would like to see the whole world practicing organic farming," Sabine continues.

"The great diversity of species, the untouched nature in the middle of the mountains. Lots of forest and meadows, many undeveloped places, the peace and quiet and the good, clean air. That's happiness," Sabine enthuses. The Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve is a paradise for her, she tells me.

Finally, Sabine tells me that her organic cookies are available at "Sutterlüty" as well as in organic stores and cheese houses. Restaurants also offer her cookies.

Finally, I have a question for the two of them: "Sabine and Xavier, what else do you want to tell people, what is your message?" Their answer comes promptly: "Live, love, learn, laugh. Enjoy life! That's what we want to pass on."

* Xavier is from Brittany. This part was once independent of France and that's why the locals call themselves "Bretons", they also have their own language, "Breton".