Reinventing Workplace Food: The Return of Usego
Reinventing Workplace Food: The Return of Usego
How FELFEL is reinventing a Swiss cult brand and why companies are rethinking workplace food today.
For nearly 100 years, Usego stood for one promise: “Good products at a fair price.” Today, in a fundamentally changed world of work, that promise is making a comeback — directly in offices, production sites, and businesses.
The world of work has changed, but workplace dining hasn't yet
Following the pandemic, employees are returning to the office. The demand for on-site catering is noticeably on the rise. At the same time, people’s expectations in the workplace have changed. They want to eat quickly, have a variety of options to choose from, and not have to dig deep into their wallets. Meanwhile, the traditional cafeteria simply no longer makes financial sense for many companies. Fixed costs are too high, coordination is too time-consuming, and there’s too little flexibility. The demand for a solution that operates without in-house staff yet still delivers high-quality food has grown significantly in recent years. Three trends are currently shaping the market: the return-to-office effect, the ongoing takeout trend, and the need for affordable and flexible office catering without the need for infrastructure.
Before we developed the Usego Lädeli, we listened. We contacted 150 companies, and the feedback was clear:
Fair, transparent prices, comparable to those at the supermarket next door
Contactless, hassle-free payment
A menu that caters to the takeout trend
24/7 availability, regardless of business hours
Based on these findings, we redesigned the concept from the ground up. Six test sites guided us through an intensive pilot phase that ran until the end of 2024. The feedback was directly incorporated into the product range, the user interface, and the modular system. Since 2025, over 30 permanent installations have been in operation across Switzerland, with the number continuing to rise significantly.
The comeback of a Swiss cult brand
The “Union Schweizerische Einkaufsgesellschaft Olten” or Usego, once supplied over 4,000 independent local shops across Switzerland at its peak. FELFEL has acquired the brand rights and reinterpreted its core for today’s working world.<br>For older generations, the brand evokes real nostalgia. For younger ones, it reads as “Use & Go” — perfectly capturing the mindset of a generation that prioritizes convenience, while still valuing authenticity and local roots. Heritage is back. Brands with history are experiencing a revival.
The three Services Usego Lädeli
he Usego fridge is not a typical vending machine, but a fully automated store located directly at the workplace. Accessible 24/7 and modular in design, it offers three services:
Usego Snacks: Switzerland’s most popular premium brands for those little hunger pangs. Over 20 different drinks, snacks, and classics that everyone knows and loves.
Usego Sandwich: The first sandwich machine of its kind in Switzerland, offering over 12 varieties, from chicken curry and caprese to ham & cheese and tuna.
Usego Lunch: Hot daily meals for under CHF 10, available around the clock. Ideal for companies that want to offer lunch options without investing in a canteen.
Ready for a Usego fridge in your company?
We’d be happy to advise you!
