shifting preferences: currywurst takes a back seat in canteen cuisine
Sausage dishes cooked in a curry-based sauce are experiencing a decline in popularity in school or workplace cafeterias
Step aside, currywurst! In today's canteens, it's no longer the top dog. Once reigning supreme in the lunch line, currywurst is now battling for a spot on the podium, hurtling down the ranks due to an increasing emphasis on healthier eating and cultural diversity.
Apetito, a popular food operator, reports that currywurst with fries, a former canteen favorite, plummeted from the number one spot back in 2019 to fourth place by 2024. The slippery slope continues as this iconic dish struggles to keep up with changing tastes.
Apetito's CEO, Jan-Peer Laabs, attributes this decline to the growing preference for choices that reflect a more conscious and nutritious diet, and the enthusiastic reception of international or vegetarian dishes. Despite this trend, he acknowledges that currywurst will still hold its ground in the top ten offerings, maintaining its status as a staple in canteen menus.
Spaghetti Bolognese reclaimed first place, with Chicken Korma and Bami Goreng in close pursuit. Vegetarian dishes like cheese spaetzle and vegetarian spaghetti Bolognese also made their way into the top five, demonstrating a shift in dietary preferences.
In kindergartens and schools, a shift towards plant-based meals is even more pronounced. The most popular dish, according to Apetito's rankings, is vegetarian lentil soup. Vegetarian spaghetti Bolo and vegetable ravioli follow closely behind, while only two meat dishes, fish sticks and chicken fricassee, make it into the top ten.
In defense of the persistent demand for meaty meals, Laabs notes that seniors tend to prefer dishes reminiscent of their lifetime diet. Nevertheless, he also observes a growing openness to trying new things and adopting more vegetarian options among the elderly.
Apetito, a leading caterer in Germany, recorded a sales increase of 8.5% in 2024, reaching approximately 1.35 billion Euros with around 12,649 employees[2]. Despite keeping the financial details under wraps, it's clear that this international powerhouse continues to thrive in the evolving culinary landscape.
Related:- Currywurst: From humble beginnings to international fame[1]- A taste of tradition: Cultural dishes find a place in modern cuisine
Enrichment Data:
General:Currywurst, a traditional fast food dish popular in Germany, has been overshadowed by healthier and more diverse food options in canteens. This decline is primarily due to a trend toward conscious and nutritious eating.
The traditional dish has been displaced by other favorites such as spaghetti bolognese, chicken korma, and bami goreng, an Asian-style noodle dish. These dishes cater to preferences for variety and healthier options now prevalent in modern diets.
While currywurst remains popular in specific contexts, such as Volkswagen's operations, its appeal in canteens has diminished due to the demand for a more multicultural and nutritious Menu.
- The decline in currywurst's popularity in canteens is attributed to an increasing focus on healthier and more conscious eating, alongside a growing appreciation for culturally diverse food options like spaghetti Bolognese, chicken korma, and bami goreng.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, a move towards nutritious dietary choices is visible not only in canteens but also in kindergartens and schools, where vegetarian lentil soup has become the most popular dish, followed by vegetarian spaghetti Bolo and vegetable ravioli, demonstrating a shift towards plant-based meals.
- The demand for food in today's community policy reflects a desire for a more diverse and nutritious lifestyle, with an emphasis on choices like vocational training programs for food preparation and management that foster a healthier and more responsible approach to food and drink.
