From zero to 165 shops - that is the impressive result of 30 years of BILLA in Slovakia. Today, the brand is firmly rooted and impresses with local products and strong own brands. However, the close customer loyalty is primarily thanks to the more than 4,000 employees. one spoke to some of the pioneers.
An incredible and wonderful 30 years have passed since the first BILLA shop opened in Slovakia in 1993. In these three decades, our company has had room to grow and develop into the company we know today. From a single shop in Trnava, the number has grown to more than 160 shops across Slovakia.
We spoke to five colleagues who have been with us from day one. Zuzana Frišová and Branislav Frišo now work in logistics. Soňa Bonková, Dagmar Ferenyiová and Michal Lazarčik have been part of the team at the first BILLA store in Trenčín for 30 years.
one: How has BILLA changed in your eyes over the last 30 years?
Zuzana Frišová, Logistics: We have grown and adapted to the market, customer needs and the times through rapid (sometimes excessive) process changes - events in the company that have really put our resilience and strength to the test in recent years, whether in economic, personnel or logistical terms...
Branislav Frišo, Logistics: Since I joined the company, BILLA has become much more hectic, software-, hardware- and logistics-intensive. I understand that this has to do with the times, the competition, the number of shops and the fast pace of today's world.
Soňa Bonková: It has become more modern, better quality and accessible in every city.
Dagmar Ferenyiová: BILLA has undergone several major changes and stages of development, but they have certainly only led to better things.
Michal Lazarčik: 30 years is of course a long time, and I think that BILLA has changed not only in terms of appearance and technology, but also in terms of vision - definitely for the better.
one: You have also evolved and grown with BILLA. What would you say to your younger self who has just started their career with the company?
Zuzana Frišová: The most important thing is to do your job as well as possible and to enjoy it, because that's the only way to develop and progress.
Branislav Frišo: You can't let yourself be rushed, you have to do the work precisely and remember that we don't just do a certain thing for a while, but that it has to stay with us for a while.
Soňa Bonková: I would say that you should always do your best and always be a role model.
Dagmar Ferenyiová : In any case, BILLA has a future and is learning new things.
Michal Lazarčik: You have to have a strong will, the desire to work and, above all, you can't be afraid to communicate with your colleagues. Not asking is not knowing.
one: What is your favourite experience - or the experience that has stuck in your memory - in connection with BILLA?
Zuzana Frišová: My favourite experience was the Christmas party with the theme Party Rock in 2017 with my colleagues.
Branislav Frišo: There are several experiences that have stayed with me, but one of the most exciting was meeting the founder of BILLA himself, Karl Wlaschek.
Soňa Bonková: There are many experiences, but one of the best is my fun club with my grandfather's sweet makers, who come and always say that they love coming to us.
Dagmar Ferenyiová: Definitely the first Christmas in 1994, which I still remember with a smile on my face.
Michal Lazarčik: I remember the time when we opened the first branch in Trenčín. It was terribly cold there and it wasn't heated, but we got together as a team and said we'd give it a go. And that's what we did. There were a lot of people there who were curious about BILLA.
one: What made you decide to stay with us at BILLA for so many years?
Zuzana Frišová Logistik: I don't know how quickly time flies and I realise that 30 years have passed.
Branislav Frišo: To tell you the truth, somehow I didn't realise those years had passed and I don't even know how.
Soňa Bonková: My biggest motivation is definitely my children, my family and actually the whole BILLA team, which has also become my family over the years.
Dagmar Ferenyiová: There's more, but the biggest credit goes to my work team, which has also become a circle of my close friends over the years.
Michal Lazarčik: Definitely our team, because together we managed to create this place. It was in a disastrous state, we had employees who didn't want to work. But together with the management, we found new people and got the place back in order
Since the opening of the first BILLA store in Slovakia in 1993, it has been an incredible and beautiful 30 years. During these three decades, our company has had room to grow and develop into the company we know today. From one original outlet in Trnava, the number has grown to more than 160 outlets all over Slovakia - from big cities to local villages.
one: How has BILLA changed over the last 30 years in your eyes?
Zuzana Frišová: We have grown and by rapid (sometimes too much) process changes we adapt to the market, customer needs, time - events in the company, which in recent years have properly tested our resilience and strength whether from the economic, personnel, logistics...
Branislav Frišo: Since I joined the company, BILLA has become much more hectic, software, hardware and logistics intensive. I understand that this is due to the times, competition, the number of branches and the fast-paced life of this era.
Soňa Bonková: It has become more modern, better quality and accessible in every city.
Dagmar Ferenyiová, 202 Trenčín - BILLA has gone through several major changes and development stages, but it has certainly only led to better things.
Michal Lazarčik, 202 Trnečín - So of course 30 years is quite a long time and I think that BILLA has changed not only in terms of its appearance and technology, but also its vision - definitely for the better.
one: Together with BILLA you have also developed and grown, what would you say to your younger self, who was just starting his career path in this company?
Zuzana Frišová: The important thing is to do your job as well as possible and with joy, because that's the only way to develop and move forward.
Branislav Frišo: No rush, the work is yours to do with precision, and to remember that we are not doing a given thing just for a while, but that it will have to stay here with us for some time.
Soňa Bonková: I would say to always do the best you can and always be an example.
Dagmar Ferenyiová: Definitely that it has a future and new things need to be learnt.
Michal Lazarčik: You need to have a strong will, a desire to work and especially not to be afraid to communicate with your colleagues. Who does not ask, does not know.
one: What is your favourite experience (or the experience that sticks in your mind) connected with BILLA?
Zuzana Frišová: My most memorable experience was the Christmas party with the Party ROCK theme in 2017 with my colleagues.
Branislav Frišo: There are a few experiences that have stuck in my memory, but among the most exciting ones I count meeting the founder of BILLA himself, Mr Karl Wlaschek.
Soňa Bonková: There are many experiences, but among the nicest ones is my funclub of grandfathers of confectioners who come and always say that they enjoy coming to us.
Dagmar Ferenyiová: Definitely the first Christmas in 1994, which I still remember with a smile on my face.
Michal Lazarčik: I have a memory of the time when we opened the first branch in Trenčín. It was terribly cold there and it was not heated, but as a team we joined together and said we would give it a go. And we did. There were a lot of people there who were curious about BILLA.
one: What motivated you to stay with us at BILLA for so many years?
Zuzana Frišová: I don't realise how quickly time flies and I realise that 30 years have passed.
Branislav Frišo: To tell you the truth, somehow I didn't notice those years, they passed and I don't even know how.
Soňa Bonková: I definitely consider my biggest motivation to be my children, my family and actually the whole BILLA team, which has also become my family over the years.
Dagmar Ferenyiová: There is more, but the biggest credit goes to my work team, which over time has also turned into a circle of my close friends.
Michal Lazarčik: Definitely our team, because together we managed to put this place together. It was in a disastrous state, we had employees who didn't want to work. But together with the management we found new people and we put it back in order.
