Employee Dining: What Companies Can Offer Today
Employee catering encompasses everything a company does to provide its employees with food and beverages at the workplace. The most common options are company cafeterias, catering services, snack vending machines, and smart refrigerators. The best option depends primarily on the number of people on-site, work hours, and the level of effort desired. FELFEL offers the smart refrigerator: meals prepared by Swiss partner chefs, delivered fresh every workday and available around the clock.
Why Employee Dining Is Changing
Shift work, work-from-home days, and flexible work schedules are becoming increasingly incompatible with fixed meal times. At the same time, employees want meals that are freshly cooked, varied, and available whenever they’re hungry. That’s why more and more companies are adopting flexible models or combining several of them.
What types of employee meal plans are available?
Cafeteria
A dedicated employee restaurant with its own kitchen, kitchen staff, and set hours of operation. It offers hot daily specials and serves as a gathering place. Suitable for large locations, typically with 200 or more people on site.
Catering
An external vendor delivers meals at agreed-upon times. Ideal for regular team lunches, meetings, and events.
Snack machine
Snacks and drinks available around the clock in a compact space. Perfect for quick breaks throughout the day.
Smart Refrigerator
A refrigerator at the workplace that is stocked with freshly prepared meals every workday and can be opened via an app or a badge. The provider handles restocking, cleaning, and maintenance. Suitable for employers with 50 or more on-site employees, for companies operating on shifts, and as a supplement to a cafeteria.
What Sets " FELFEL " Apart
Freshly cooked, never frozen
The meals are prepared in Switzerland and delivered every weekday. They contain no MSG or chemical flavor enhancers.
Partner Chefs by Name
Paul & Lulu, Giovanni, Tenz, and many more. The Food Scouts at FELFEL select them, focusing on family-run and small-scale producers. The dishes are available exclusively at FELFEL.
New menus every week
Over 100 dishes, snacks, and drinks, from breakfast to lunch to dessert. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and high-protein.
Around the clock
Available to everyone—even those working early, late, and night shifts can enjoy fresh meals.
Paid easily
Employees open the refrigerator using an app or a badge and pay with a credit card, TWINT, or a lunch voucher. Upon request, the employer offers a discount on the meals.
A Partner for All Things Culinary
Pairs well with coffee from Gavetti by FELFEL.
Who This Is For
No cafeteria
For employers with 50 or more on-site employees who do not wish to operate a cafeteria.
With a cafeteria
As a supplement, in case the cafeteria doesn't cater to all shifts, tastes, or budgets.
Shift-Based Operations
For hospitals, hotels, schools, and manufacturing facilities—anywhere where set mealtimes don't work.
Employer Branding
It's a benefit that the entire team experiences every day—and one that makes a strong case for the company when it comes to recruiting.
Why FELFEL
FELFEL is a Swiss family-owned business and, since 2013, the original provider of fresh, refrigerated meals for the workplace. Over 1,000 companies throughout Switzerland rely on FELFEL. In Zurich and Lausanne, you can sample the meals on-site. The most hospitable employee meal service, with people who care.
Finding the Right Employee Meal Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by employee meals?
Employee dining encompasses all services through which a company provides its employees with food and beverages at the workplace—from company cafeterias to catering and snack vending machines to smart refrigerators stocked with freshly prepared meals.
What does a business need for the FELFEL refrigerator?
About 1 m² of space and an electrical outlet. Installation is free; the company pays a monthly service fee. Employees pay per meal; if they wish, the employer will cover part of the cost.
How many employees does a company need to have for FELFEL to be a good fit?
For groups of about 50 people or more on site. In Switzerland, having your own cafeteria is usually only worthwhile for groups of about 200 people or more.
How fresh are the dishes?
The meals are prepared in Switzerland, delivered every workday, and are never frozen. The menu changes every week and includes vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and high-protein dishes.
Is " FELFEL " suitable for shift work?
Yes. The refrigerator is accessible 24 hours a day, so even early and late shifts can enjoy freshly cooked meals.
How much work will this require for my company?
No extra effort. FELFEL installs, stocks, cleans, and maintains the refrigerator. Employees pay themselves via the app or their badge—no cash and no need to order in advance.