An Alternative to the Company Cafeteria: How Companies Feed Their Teams Without a Cafeteria
An Alternative to the Company Cafeteria: How Companies Feed Their Teams Without a Cafeteria
For companies with 50 or more employees, a full-service Smart Fridge is an alternative to a company cafeteria. It’s a refrigerator that’s stocked every workday with freshly prepared meals from local partner chefs. It requires 1 m² of space and a power outlet, is open 24/7, and doesn’t require a kitchen, cooking staff, or any investment.
That's exactly what the " FELFEL " refrigerator is: like having a restaurant at work, only much more affordable. FELFEL sets it up, takes care of it every day, and treats your employees like guests.
Why Many Companies Don't Have a Cafeteria
A cafeteria needs a kitchen, cooking staff, and enough diners to be profitable. Many companies lack the space or the budget for this. Furthermore, fixed opening hours barely cover early, late, and night shifts.
Many teams are familiar with this scenario: Employees have to find their own lunch, wait in line, or skip it altogether. A good alternative must therefore meet three criteria: good food, available at all times, and requiring no effort on the company’s part.
The FELFEL refrigerator also complements an existing cafeteria—with freshly cooked meals available around the clock.
How do you provide meals for 50 to 150 employees without a cafeteria?
With a FELFEL refrigerator. Here's how it works:
1. SET UP
It requires 1 m² of space and an electrical outlet. Installation is free.
2. FRESHLY COOKED
Local partner chefs cook every day. FELFEL delivers the meals in the morning before 11 a.m.
3. Select
Employees open the refrigerator using an app or a badge and take whatever they feel like, 24/7 and without having to order in advance.
4. Pay
Payment is made per dish, by credit card, TWINT, PostFinance, or Lunch-Check.
5. Sit back and enjoy
While your team enjoys lunch, FELFEL takes care of everything else: restocking, cleaning, maintenance, and support.
If the team grows or there are multiple floors, just add another refrigerator.
Cafeteria or Smart Fridge: A Comparison
The information on the alternatives is provided as a general guide.
| Criterion | In-house cafeteria | Catering / Delivery Service | Takeaway | Restaurant | Traditional Snack Vending Machine | FELFEL Fridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space requirements | Kitchen, Storage Room, and Dining Room | Place to eat | none | none | low | 1 m² and an electrical outlet |
| On-site staff | yes | no | no | no | no | No, FELFEL takes care of everything |
| Availability | fixed hours of operation | at scheduled times | depending on the hours of operation | depending on the hours of operation | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Pre-order | in part | yes | no | in part | no | no |
| Distance and Waiting Time | Lunch-time line | none | Distance and Waiting Time | Distance and Waiting Time | none | None; right at the workplace |
| Freshly cooked meals | yes | yes | depending on the provider | yes | no | Yes, from local partner chefs |
| Investment for the Company | high | low | none | none | none | None; free installation |
| Meeting Place at the Company | yes | in part | no | no | no | Yes, by the refrigerator |
When the cafeteria closes, the " FELFEL " fridge stays open: freshly cooked meals around the clock.
What could be more flexible than a traditional cafeteria?
A solution with no set opening hours and no need for renovations. The FELFEL refrigerator is also available for early, late, and night shifts and scales with your needs as team sizes or work models change. In Switzerland, the service can be tested in everyday use during a 6-month trial period.
How much does an alternative to the company cafeteria cost?
Employees pay per meal. Lunch costs between CHF 6 and 15. The following applies to the company:
Installation is free; there's no need to invest in kitchen equipment or staff.
A subsidy for employees is possible, but it is voluntary and can be adjusted at any time.
You receive one bill per month, and there is no additional administrative work involved.
What food is in the fridge?
The dishes are prepared by local partner chefs and small-scale producers—for example, the butter chicken from Paul & Lulu, the Tibetan beef momos from Tenz, or Grisons quark pizokel. The menu changes every week, and a dish doesn’t reappear for at least eight weeks. The selection includes vegetarian, vegan, and high-protein dishes, as well as home-style cooking. All meals are prepared in Switzerland, and the meat comes from Switzerland.
FELFEL recommends 3 to 5 microwaves per refrigerator for hot meals. Leftovers from Friday are available at half price starting at 3 p.m.
New dishes every week from local partner chefs—freshly prepared and delivered in the morning.
Who is the FELFEL refrigerator best suited for?
Companies with 50 or more employees on-site that do not have their own cafeteria
Companies whose cafeterias do not cater to all shifts, tastes, or budgets
Workplaces without a kitchen or nearby restaurants
Businesses with early, late, or night shifts
Companies with multiple floors or locations
Who is behind FELFEL?
FELFEL is a Swiss family-owned company that invented the Smart Fridge for the workplace in 2013. Today, more than 1,000 companies throughout Switzerland rely on FELFEL. FELFEL has received numerous awards, including the SEF Award and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award. Visitors can sample the dishes in the showrooms in Zurich and Lausanne.
Book a free tasting
The best way is for your team to see for themselves: During a free tasting, your employees can sample dishes prepared by our partner chefs right at their workplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you provide meals for 150 employees without a cafeteria?
With several FELFEL refrigerators—for example, one per floor. Each one requires 1 m² of space and a power outlet; FELFEL takes care of everything else.
What kind of catering is suitable for a company without a kitchen?
A smart fridge with full service. The meals are prepared by local partner chefs and delivered fresh every workday.
How can a company provide meals around the clock without operating a cafeteria?
With the " FELFEL " refrigerator. It’s restocked every workday and accessible around the clock, with no set hours and no need to order in advance.
At what company size does this become worthwhile?
For groups of 50 or more on site.
How are the dishes reheated?
In the microwave. FELFEL recommends 3 to 5 microwaves per refrigerator.
Do employees have to pre-order?
No. You take whatever you want and pay per dish.
What happens when the team grows?
Then another refrigerator will be added, without any remodeling.