Austria

Geography

Austria is located southwest of Germany with Hungary to the east and the Czech Republic to the north. Austria has a population of slightly over 8 million people and is roughly the size of Maine. Austria is predominately a mountainous region, with most of the country falling in the eastern division of the Alps. The climate in Austria is dependent on the elevation, with the mountainous western region being wetter and having an Atlantic climate, with cold summers and very cold winters. In the lowlands and hilly regions to the east the climate is drier, with more continental conditions, and temperatures ranging from moderately warm in the summer to cold temperatures in the winter.

Economy

The currency currently used in Austria is the schilling. The exchange rate to US dollars is 15ATS=$1. This is subject to change in the near future because Austria will be changing to the new standard Euro in 2002.

Austria has a Gross Domestic Product of $207.9b, and a per capita income of $25,655. Services make up the better part of the GDP, accounting for almost 68% and industry a far second at 30%. Most of the countries economic activity (66%) is with other members of the EU. Exports consist of iron and steel products, timber, paper, and textiles. The Imports of Austria include machinery, vehicles, chemicals and fuels.

Agriculture in Austria is not very substantial. Farms are a small and fragmented in Austria with production costs being very high. Although farmers provide 80% of the countries food requirements, it only accounts for less that 3% of the GDP.

In recent years, Austria’s economy has been growing steadily. The Austrian government began to move from nationalized business to privatized business in the early 1990’s. This has allowed the GDP to rise on average 2% in the past five years.

Government

Austria has enjoyed political stability within the country since World War II. Austria’s government is classified as a Parliamentary Democracy. It is made up of three branches Executive, Legislative, and Judicial; much like that of the United States. The Executive branch consists of a federal president (chief of state), a chancellor (head of government), and a cabinet. The current Federal President is Thomas Klestil, and the current Federal Chancellor is Wolfgang Schuessel. Upon recommendation of the Federal Chancellor, the president also appoints cabinet members, but no one can be a member of the government without the approval of the president.

The Legislative branch is made up of the bicameral Federal Assembly (Parliament). The Federal Assembly is made up of two parts the National Council (lower house) and the Federal Council (upper house). The National Council members are elected for a maximum of four years. The 64 members of the Federal Council are elected by the legislature of the nine provinces for four to six year terms.

The Judicial branch consists of the Constitutional Court and the Administrative Court, which handle bureaucratic disputes, and the Supreme Court, which handles the civil and criminal cases. The president appoints the Justices of the three courts for specific terms.

The Social Democratic Party has dominated the political parties in Austria for the last thirty years. This party draws most of its support from the urban and industrialized areas. The farmers as well as business owners support the Conservative People’s Party (OVP). The OVP attracts protest voters, and those who desire no association with the other major parties also. In 1999 the OVP formed a coalition with the right wing-populist Freedom Party. As a result of the addition of the Freedom Party, the European Union imposed a series of sanctions on Austria. This was followed by similar reactions from countries such as the United States and Israel.

People

The people of Austria are referred to as Austrians. There is almost no cultural diversity with 98% of the population being Germans. There are only two other sizable minority groups in Austria, they are the Croats located primarily in Burgenland (along the Hungarian border) and the Slovenes located in Carinthia (south central Austria). The official language is German with 92% of the population speaking this language. Almost 80% of the population are Roman Catholic, with a few being Protestant or Lutheran. Education is a very big deal in Austria. Austria uses a nine-year system, and they have near 100% attendance as well as literacy rates within the country.

Diet

Austrian’s love a good meal, and they know how to eat too. Many Austrian dishes have influence from Czech, German, or Hungarian cooking. Beef, chicken, pork, sausage and veal are the preferred meats of the country. Perhaps the Austrians most famous dish, the Wiener schnitzel, is made out of a breaded veal cutlet. This has become a famous dish all over the world. Popular side dishes include dumplings, noodles, and potatoes. Beer or Wine will go well for any meal as the beverage. Austrians are also famous for their cakes and pastries, which are served after the main meal. Another dish enjoyed in Austria, which is a surprise to Americans, is Wiener Backhendl (Backhuhn), which is fried chicken.

Although these meals are the preferred by the Austrian consumer, the recent trend is in a new direction. With the increased employment of females in Austria there is less time to prepare meals. The current trend resembles that of the American society, in the increased use of ready to eat meals, as well as other convenience foods. Also there has been recent increases in the use of home delivered groceries.

Switzerland

Geography

Switzerland is bordered by France, Germany, Austria, and Italy and has a population of approximately 7.3 million people. It is about half the size of South Carolina and has a mainly mountainous terrain with a peak elevation of about 15 thousand feet. Switzerland has a temperate climate with cold, rainy/snowy winters and cool to warm, humid summers. Natural hazards include avalanches, landslides, and flash floods.

Economy

Switzerland has a prosperous and stable modern market economy. In recent years they have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the European Union’s to enhance international competitiveness.

Switzerland has a per capita gross domestic product of $27,000. As of February 7, 2001 the current exchange rate per $1 is 1.65 Swiss Francs. The labor force is 3.8m; 64% are in services, 30% in industry, and 6% are in agriculture. They have an unemployment rate of 2.8%.

Exports account for about $99b. Primary exports are machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, and agricultural products. Switzerland’s main trading partners are the European Union, United States, and Japan.

Manufacturing consists of chemicals, electrical equipment, machine tools, precision instruments, processed foods, and watches.

Switzerland’s agriculture supplies for only 60% of the peoples needs. The main agricultural products are dairy products, fruits, potatoes, sugar beets, and wheat. Income from dairy equals 70% of all agricultural value. Such products are milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, and milk for chocolate. Livestock consists of dairy cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, and chickens.

The government of Switzerland subsidizes agriculture; this is necessary to keep the current farmers from moving off of the farm. The average size of a farm is 8 acres, and a large part of that is pasture.

Government

Switzerland’s government is of the Federal Republic type. They have the Federal Council (Executive), Parliament (Legislative), and Federal Supreme Court (Judiciary).

A President and a Vice President head the Federal Council. The current President is Moritz Leuenberger; he is the chief of state as well as the head of government. The Vice President is Kaspar Villiger. The President of the Confederation is elected for a 1-year term. He is regarded as the primus inter pares, or first among equals, for this period. He chairs the meetings of the Federal Council and undertakes special representational duties.

As the supreme authority of the country, the Federal Council is primarily responsible for the activities of the Government. The Federal Council must keep under constant review situations arising out of developments in the State and society and events at home and abroad. It is also responsible for defining the fundamental goals of the state action, and determining the resources needed for their attainment. It is their responsibilities to plan, coordinate, and safeguard the implementation of Government policy. In addition the Federal Council must regularly and systematically supervise the whole Federal Administration.

The Parliament consists of a Federal Assembly and a National Council. There are 46 seats in the Federal Assembly and the members serve a 4-year term. The National Council has 200 seats and they too serve a 4-year term. Goals of the Parliament are to keep each citizen abreast of the composition, the organization, and the operations of the Federal Assembly in an efficient, comprehensive, and simple manner.

The Federal Supreme Court is responsible for key legislative matters pertaining to constitutional and administrative law, private law, and criminal law. It also functions as an advisor to the rest of the Swiss Government in all legislative matters and drafts advisory opinions. It oversees the commercial register, the civil status register and the land register as well as the acquisition of real estate residing outside of Switzerland. The Federal Assembly elects its members for 6 years.

There are several political parties in Switzerland. Alliance of Independents Party, Christian Democratic Party, Freedom Party, Green Party, Radical Free Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Swiss People’s Party, and the Ticino League Party are among the largest, and there are several smaller parties.

People

Switzerland has a population of about 7 million with 5.9 million of those, citizens. About 50% of the population is under the age of 39. There are 3 official languages of Switzerland; 65% of the population speak German, 18% speak French, 10% speak Italian, and about 1% speaks Romansh. The main religions are Roman Catholic with 46%, and Protestant with 40%. There are several other religions but they are in very small numbers. Switzerland also has a 99% literacy rate.

Education and knowledge are considered to be very important resources in Switzerland. They claim to have one of the world’s best education systems. Each canton is responsible for educational services and the education can vary between the cantons. This creates a problem with children moving from canton to canton.

In Switzerland most children go to public schools. Private schools are usually expensive and people tend to think that the children at the private schools didn’t make it at the public ones. Public schools consist of kindergarten, elementary school, secondary school, and universities. After elementary school, kids may either choose to go on to secondary school or to start an apprenticeship. After the apprenticeship it is still possible to start an academic career at either a secondary school or a technical college.

Diet

Food, ingredients, and the way to prepare it varies greatly over the country. Generally speaking, basic food items include a large selection of bread, dairy products such as milk, yogurt, butter and cheeses. Vegetables are also very important such as beans, carrots, cauliflower, and potatoes. Meat and sausages mainly consist of veal, beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. Fruits are another part of the Swiss diet such as apples, pears, grapes, and several types of berries. Sweets are also a main part of the diet with Swiss chocolate being the main.

In Switzerland, breakfast typically includes bread, cheese, cereals, milk, hot chocolate, and tea or coffee. Lunch can either as simple as a sandwich or a complete meal. Dinner depends on what they had for dinner can be a full main coarse or just some bead and cheese and dried meat.

Drinks range from plain water and soft drinks to a great variety of beers and wines. Hot drinks include many different flavors of teas and coffees.

There are several places to dine out in Switzerland that range from fast food like that of the U. S. to very expensive restaurants, where eating out is supposed to be an experience.

Germany

Geography

Germany is located between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. The North Sea and the Baltic Sea border Germany. Germany has a total land area of about 130,000 square miles, with 3,000 square miles of that water. Germany is slightly smaller than Montana. One percent of Germany’s land is used for permanent crops, and 15% of its land permanent pastures. Germany has about 1.2 million acres of irrigated land. Germany has a population of nearly 83 million people. It is lowlands in the north, uplands in the center, and Bavarian Alps in the south. It has a temperate and marine climate, with cool, cloudy wet winters and suppers, and occasional warm foehn winds.

Economy

Germany’s economy is the third most technologically powerful in the world after the U.S. and Japan. Germany is one of the seven leading western industrial countries, which holds a summit meeting every year at which they coordinate their economic and financial policies.

Since World War Two, the German economy has flourished. Since the war, the Federal Republic has created a socially responsible market economy. The state plays a small role in the economy, it creates general conditions for the market process.

Germany has a Gross Domestic Product of US$ 1.864 trillion. Their GDP has doubled in the past 30 years. The currency of Germany is the Deutsche Mark, until 1 January 2002, when they will switch to the Euro. As of 19 February 2001, the exchange rate for US$ 1 is DEM 2.12.

Germany is an advocate of free world trade. It depends on these open markets because it exports a third of its gross domestic product. Germany has a strong economy because of its strong and skilled work force, which is about 40.5 million. The workforce can be divided into these three categories: industry 33.7%, agriculture 2.7%, and services 63.6%. Germany has an unemployment rate around 10.5%. Germany is among the world’s largest and technologically advanced producers of iron, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, food and beverages, shipbuilding, and textiles.

Germany's major agricultural products are milk, pork, beef, grains, and sugar beets. In some regions wine, fruits and vegetables, and other horticultural products play an important role. Products with a total value of US$ 23.8 billion were exported. Imports, on the other hand, amounted to US$ 40.9 billion. This makes Germany the world’s largest importer of agricultural products.

Government

Germany is classified as a Federal Republic. The Federal Republic consists of 16 states, with each state having it’s own power. Each has a constitution that must be consistent with the republican, democratic and social principles in the Basic Law, which is the Republic’s constitution. Subject to these conditions they can shape their constitutions as they see fit.

The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany was adopted in 1949, and became the constitution of the united German people on 3 October 1990. The Basic Law called upon the people to achieve in free self-determination the unity and freedom of Germany. The people exercise that authority directly in elections and indirectly through bodies instituted by the constitution: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The constitutional bodies with primarily legislative functions are the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Executive responsibilities lie principally with the Federal Government, headed by the Federal Chancellor, and the Federal President. Judicial functions pertaining to the constitution are performed by the Federal Constitutional Court.

The current president of Germany is President Johannes Rau, since 1 July 1999. The president is elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the Land Parliaments.

Since the first general election to be held in the whole of Germany (1990) there have been six parties in the Bundestag. These parties are the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Free Democratic Party, the Christian Social Union, the Party of Democratic Socialism, and Alliance 90/ The Greens.

People

Germany doesn’t have much diversity, with approximately ninety- percent being German. Minorities are Turkish, Italian, Greek and Polish workers. The official language is German. Several regional dialects exist, the largest group being Sorbian, a Slavic language. Germany has three main religions. Thirty-five percent of the German population are Protestant, thirty-five percent are Roman Catholic and two percent Muslim.

Nearly one third of the population (about 26 million people) live in the 84 large cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. But the majority of people in the Federal Republic live in small towns and villages: nearly 6.6 million in municipalities with a population of fewer than 2,000 and 49.7 million in towns with between 2,000 and 100,000 inhabitants.

The German nation essentially grew out of a number of German tribes such as the Franks, the Saxons, the Swabians and the Bavarians. These old tribes have of course long since lost their original character, but their traditions and dialects live on in their respective regions. Different characteristics have been ascribed to the various regional groups. Natives of Mecklenburg, for instance, are considered reserved, Swabians thrifty, Rhinelanders happy-go-lucky, and Saxons hardworking and shrewd –traditional observations that are gladly perpetuated to this very day in a spirit of good-natured folkloric rivalry.

Diet

Famous German dishes include sauerkraut, Wiener Schnitzel (veal cutlet), frankfurters, bratwurst and dumplings. Germany is also famous for its cheese and dark rye bread. Apple desserts, such as apple cake, apple pancakes and apple strudels are popular. Germany has many rich foods because butter and sour cream are used to flavor dishes more than herbs and spices.

Germany is famous for its excellent wine, over ninety percent being produced is white. Great Britain is the main export market, the United States being the second. Germany is also famous for it’s many varieties of beer.

Germany has different eating habits than we do in the United States. In the United States we traditionally have a light lunch and a big dinner, just the opposite is found in Germany. For breakfast Germans have fresh rolls or bread with butter and cheese or jam. Yogurt, muesli (granola), and fresh fruit may also be found. A small sandwich or snack is usually eaten around 10:30 in the morning as a second breakfast. Lunch is traditionally the largest meal of the day.

Some companies grant two-hour lunch breaks. In the afternoon tea and coffee are taken with some type of cake, usually sheet cakes such as apple or plum cakes. Dinner is usually somewhat light, although people find this is the most convenient time to cook or go out to a restaurant. A classic German dinner would be bread with cheese, sliced sausages and cold cuts, although any number of European dishes can be served.

Czech Republic

Geography

The Czech Republic is located southeast of Germany and has a population of 10 million people. The country is slightly smaller than South Carolina and is divided into two regions: Bohemia in the west, consisting of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; and Moravia in the east, consisting of a very hilly country. The climate is temperate: cold, cloudy, with cool summers and humid winters. The Czech Republic is landlocked and is located along some of the oldest and most significant land routes in Europe.

Economy

In state hands during the Communist era, the Czech Republic's agricultural and industrial sectors appeared to be relatively quickly privatized and showed appreciable growth in the early 1990s. Foreign investment was a necessity. An economic slowdown in 1997, however, revealed problems in the transition from government control to a privatized economy.

Agriculturally the Czech Republic is a self-efficient county with help of little import. The chief crops are corn, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, barley, and rye. Among the country's livestock are hogs, cattle, sheep, and poultry. Manufacturing is the chief economic activity, especially the production of automobiles, machine tools, and machinery. Other industries include metalworking, chemicals, electronics, and glass. The republic's limited natural resources include coal, timber, and uranium. The largest trading partners are Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Poland, and Hungary; recent efforts have increased trade with many Western countries.

The countries GDP is at $120b consisting of three sectors: service 53%, industry 42%, and agriculture 5%. GDP per capita is $11,300 with exports of machinery and transport equipment accounting for the majority of $26b in exports. Importing of machinery, chemicals and fuels from neighboring countries amounts to $29b. Inflation rate was pushed down from 10.7% in 1999 to a mere 2.1%. By doing so, the Czech Republic caught up with a number of advanced market economies and as a result they are competitive with neighboring countries in cost of production with a current 2.5% inflation rate. The Czech Republic’s currency is the Koruny, the exchange rate is about $1 USD = 38.53 CZK.

Political and financial crises in 1997 shattered the Czech Republic's image as one of the most stable and prosperous of post-Communist states. Delays in enterprise restructuring and failure to develop a well-functioning capital market played major roles in Czech economic troubles, which culminated in a currency crisis in May. The currency was forced out of its fluctuation band as investors worried that the current account deficit, which reached nearly 8% of GDP in 1996, would become unsustainable. After expending $3b to support the currency, the central bank let it float. The growing current account imbalance was a result of domestic demand and poor export performance, as wage increases outpaced productivity. The government was forced to introduce two packages later in the spring that cut government spending by 2.5% of GDP. Growth dropped to 0.3% in 1997, -2.3% in 1998, and -0.5% in 1999. The basic transition problem continues to be too much direct and indirect government influence on the privatized economy. The government established a restructuring agency in 1999 and launched a revitalization program, to spur the sale of firms to foreign companies. Key priorities include accelerating legislative convergence with the EU, restructuring enterprises, and privatizing banks and utilities. The economy, bounced back by increased export growth and investment, is expected to recover in 2001.

Government

After a decade filled with uncertainty, the Czech republic has rebounded from a communist state and established a parliamentary democracy. The republic gained its independence on the 1 January 1993 from Czechoslovakia and has some similarities of our own government under the control of President Vaclav Havel.

The constitution was ratified 16 December 1992 and became effective 1 January 1993. The legal system is a civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes, in the last decade the system has been modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperating in Europe. There are 8 administrative divisions that are sub-divided into 73 districts. The government is divided into 3 branches; Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The Executive branch includes; the chief of state, President Vaclav Havel who was re-elected in 1998. The president is elected by Parliament for a five-year term. The head of government is Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus under him Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan Kocarnik, Josef Lux and Jan Klavoda help oversee the countries operations. The cabinet is also included in the executive branch, the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister. The Legislative branch, known as the bicameral Parliament that consist of the senate which seats 81; members are elected by popular vote to serve staggered two-four, and six-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies, which seats 200, which is similar to our house of representatives, members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The Judicial branch includes the Supreme Court, where the chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for life. The Constitutional Court serves as the countries other court which the chairman and the deputy chairmen are also appointed by the president for life.

Presently, The Chief of State Vaclav Havel continues to run the country. Major issues the government is discussing is the future operation of their sandaled nuclear power plant and making the necessary changes to meet plans of joining the EU by 2003.

People

The majority of the 10.5 million residents of the Czech Republic are ethnically Czech (95%). Other ethnic groups include Germans, Roma, and Poles. After the 1993 division, some Slovaks remained in the Czech Republic and comprise roughly 3% of the current population. The border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia is open for former citizens of Czechoslovakia. Laws establishing religious freedom were passed shortly after the revolution of 1989, lifting oppressive regulations enacted by the former communist regime. Major denominations and their estimated percentage populations are Roman Catholic (39%) and Protestant (3%). A large percentage of the Czech population claim to be atheists (40%), and 16% say they are uncertain. The Jewish community numbers a few thousand today; a synagogue in Prague memorializes the names of more than 80,000 Czechoslovak Jews who perished in World War II. It is a hard life for people in the Czech Republic. Being under former communist rule, the people have been used to being told what they are and what they should believe. Since the overrunning of the communist power the Czech republic is in a stage of rebuilding and identifying themselves.

The degree of education completion at elementary, secondary and university levels is very high in the Czech Republic compared to world standards. All children in the Czech Republic must attend elementary school up to the age of 15. Upon finishing elementary school, 52% of children continue their education in vocational schools and 48% move on to secondary schools. 7.2% of Czechs complete a university education.

Diet

Czech food is looked at a little different: Fat is flavor, grease is good and cholesterol is your friend. If this sounds liberating, then roll up your sleeves and pull up a chair.

Bohemian dining reflects the influences of neighboring countries on this part of Europe. Germanic imports include roast goose, sauerkraut and dumplings.

Czech cuisine has also imports schnitzels (breaded and fried chicken or pork patties) from Vienna, goulash from Hungary and other Slav basics -- sour cream, vinegar, sour vegetables, pickles -- from the East. And while Czech food is defiantly not spicy. Meats and starches dominate the national dinner table.

The most popular typical Czech dish is "Veprova s knedlikem a se zelim" -- roast pork served with sauerkraut and dumplings. "Svickova na smetane" (sliced beef sirloin, braised in the oven and served in a cream sauce with a garnish of cranberries and a dollop of whipped cream) is another classic served in the Republic.

Good goulash is almost always accompanied by a side dish of spongy, fluffy Czech dumplings, which are distinguished by being served in slices, much like bread.

As far as what they call fast food, bramborak (a garlic-seasoned fried potato pancake) is a quick, if greasy, local favorite. Ditto for smazeny syr (fried cheese). The parek v rohliku (hotdog encased in a roll) is sold from kiosk windows around the bridge between an early lunch and late dinner. Although landlocked, the Czech Republic does not lock out seafood lovers. Pond-bred trout and carp from south Bohemia are popular and available in any Czech restaurants. Vegetarian dining is practically nonexistant, but there are enough Czech sidedishes -- fried cheese, potato pancakes, various vegetable soups for those who don’t eat meat. Czech beer is touted as the world's best. A half-liter glass is often cheaper than a Coke or cup of coffee. Two of the most famous labels are Pilsner Urquell, a light and hoppy brew, and Budwieser Budvar, considered a national treasure In general, tmave pivo (dark beer) is usually sweet while svetle pivo (a light, golden-color beer) is aromatic and bitter.

What we are going to do is create a website that allows you to make your own gift baskets. There will be a Central European product list that you can choose from, to put in your gift basket. Orders will be done on-line. There will be discounts for buying products in bulk (for a grocery store for example).

Wines

From Switzerland we have two white wines and two red wines. The white wines are Challelas ($4.32), and Auverier White ($6.28). The red wines are Salvagnin ($8.07), and Pinot Noir ($11.47).

From Austria we have two wines. From Zephyr-one Co. we have Welshriesling TBA 1995 ($17.30), and from K&L Merchants we have Riesling Heiligenstein Alte Reben ($38.99).

From Germany we have three white wines, one sweet, and one sparkling wine (comparable to champagne). The white wines are 1998 Prinz Von Hohenzollern-buden (750ml, $14.99), 1999 Kall Stadlar Chardonnay (750ml, $15.99), and 1999er Jechtinger Eichert (750ml, $9.75). The sweet wine is 1994er Konigshaffhauser Hasenberg (500ml, $17.60). The sparkling wine is 1995er PINOT Extra Brut ($11.90).

From the Weingut-Louis-Guntrum Vineyards in Germany we have three wines.

The first is Guntrum Riesling Royal Blue Bottle (750ml, $3.20), this is a fruity white wine for crackers and cheese.

The second is Guntrum Scheurebe Kabinett (750ml, $4.25), this is a white wine with a little spice and sweetness, this also goes good with cheese and crackers.

The third type is Penguin Eiswein (375ml, $27.65), this is a dessert wine.

From the Czech Republic we have a white wine from Bohemia Regic. This is La Boheme White Wine ($12.50).

Beer

From Switzerland we have Hanfblute, which is $14.70 per case (15 bottles, 0.5 Lt. Each)

From The Czech Republic we have a pilsner beer, Pilsner Urquell 12% (0.33 Lt., $0.40), made by Plzensky Prazdroij.

Desserts and Candy

From Austria we have three kind of Strudel’s from Frizls Austrian Grill & Dessert Shop. We have Apple ($11.00), Cherry ($14.00), and Peach ($14.00).

From Switzerland we have three types of chocolates. Bottes Classiques ($13.83), Bottes Fantaisies ($20.75), and Pave Glace de Geneve ($25.08).

From Germany we have a cake, Kuchen Meister Butter Cake (17.5oz, $1.99).

Cheese

From Switzerland we have four types of Cheeses. Appenzell ($14.98lb), Dame Blanche ($12.95lb), Emmental ($5.98), and Fromage D’Alpage L’Etivaz ($15.00lb)

From Germany we have two types of Brie cheese and one type of blue cheese. We have Brie with Mushrooms ($11.95lb), Cambozla German Brie ($11.95lb), and Montagnolo creamy blue cheese ($11.95lb).

From the Czech Republic we have one type of cheese, Panska ($3.50lb).

Nuts

From Switzerland we have Amandes Princesse (almonds), for $13.83.

Fish and Salami

From Germany we have Viking’s Delight 2 Layer Sardines in pure olive oil (3.75oz, $2.39). We have Smoked Herring (7oz, $1.99), and Herring in Dill (7oz, $1.99). We have one type of salami: Schaller & Weber Touristenwurst Ring (12oz, $5.99).

Bread and Crackers

From Germany we have a wholewheat rye crispbread from Burgene Vollkorn-Delikatesse (8.8oz, $1.49). We also have Linseed Rye Bread (17.5oz, $2.39).

We are importing beef and seafood. We decided on importing beef because of the current livestock crisis in Europe. Since European beef consumption is down so much, we think that bringing in disease free beef from Australia will be profitable.

The transportation costs for the beef from Sydney, Australia to Berlin, Germany is $150 per carton. This is being shipped through UPS. From Berlin it will be distributed to Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and other German locations, using UPS also.

In Germany the beef will be distributed to the Kempinski Hotels and Resorts. We will be focusing on five of their hotels. Costs per carton for transporting to these hotels are: Hotel Adlon, Berlin ($4.00); Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais, Dresden ($4.50); Kempinski Hotel Gravenbrach, Frankfurt ($4.50); Kempinski Hotel Atlantic, Hamburg ($4.00); and Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Munich ($4.00).

In Austria we will be distributing to the Ana Grand Hotel Wien in Vienna. Transportation costs from Berlin to Vienna will be $24.00 per carton by UPS.

In the Czech Republic the beef will be distributed to the Albatros Hotel in Prague, the Pyramida Hotel, and the Metamorphis Hotel. The cost for transporting the beef from Berlin to here is $19.00 per carton through UPS.

We will be distributing the beef in Switzerland at the Top Opera House Hotel in Zurich, and the Bristol Hotel in Geneva. The cost of transportation per carton to Switzerland is $27.00 through UPS.

Transportation costs for the Deep-Sea Basket from Copenhagen, Denmark to Berlin, Germany is $47.00 per basket. This is being shipped through UPS. From Berlin it will be distributed to Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and other German locations, using UPS also.

We will be distributing this to the same hotels in Germany. The transportation cost per basket is $4.00 each.

In Austria we will be distributing this to the same hotel in Vienna. The transportation cost for the basket is $22.00.

We will be distributing the basket in Switzerland. The cost of transportation per basket to Switzerland is $25.00 through UPS.

We will be distributing the basket to the same hotels in the Czech Republic. The Transportation cost is $17.00 per basket through UPS.