Regional Organic Food in Out-of-Home Catering: Results of a Field Study in Southwest Germany

Malina Bachert (), Saskia Schmid and Jörg Woidasky
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Malina Bachert: Institut für Industrial Ecology, Hochschule Pforzheim, Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany
Saskia Schmid: Faculty of Business, Hochschule Pforzheim, Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany
Jörg Woidasky: Institut für Industrial Ecology, Hochschule Pforzheim, Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany

World, 2025, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-31

Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyze the current situation of out-of-home catering (OHC) in Germany concerning the use of regional organic food using a case study; we also aim to determine the potential and challenges that exist in increasing the proportion of regional organic food in OHC. The food purchasing data from three canteens of the company were analyzed concerning regionality, seasonality, and organic share. The companies’ employees were asked about their willingness to pay and their attitude towards regional organic food using an online questionnaire. A price comparison between organically and conventionally grown food was carried out with food wholesalers’ product price lists. The study confirms the potential to increase the share of regional organic food in OHC. With their private purchasing behavior, eating habits and willingness to pay a surcharge for organic quality in the company restaurants, the consumers confirm that they support an increase in the regional organic share. Regional organic food could be purchased from (organic) wholesalers. However, the study also shows that the cost of sourcing organic food is on average 50% higher than that of conventional food and that this price markup is the main reason for consumers not buying organic food.

Keywords: regional food; organic food; out-of-home catering; sustainable food (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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