The Montana Group started supplying gas in the residential market in 2008. The Group's business is rooted in mineral oil trading, and it decided very early on to develop the gas business as a second pillar. Several years ago, electricity was added to the sales portfolio. The company does not release figures about the business, but electricity and gas sales have grown steadily in recent years. Montana is also selling energy in Austria. Stefan Koburger, the managing director and a member of the family that owns the company, assures me in the interview that the business is profitable and now has a higher turnover than mineral oil trading. In the interview, he explained the business strategy and also why gas sales is not a discontinued model for him for a long time to come.
ener|gate Gasmarkt: Montana is quite successful in the gas sales business and was also present on the market during the crisis...
Mr Koburger: ...we were not always present. We consistently align ourselves with the economic framework of the business. In market phases where we can't make financially viable offers, for example, we have withdrawn from sales activities via consumer portals. During these phases, gas or electricity is only offered via our website, supported by our own marketing activities.