The Table Turns: Spaghetti Bolognese Claims the Crown, Currywurst Faces a Slump
Dining Evaluation: Spaghetti Takes Lead, Currywurst Slips in Rankings - Dining hierarchy: Spaghetti claims the top spot, curry sausage falls to the lower ranks
Currywurst, once the undisputed king of German canteen favorites, is now falling from grace. Two years ago, Currywurst with fries ruled supreme in Apetito's canteens. But in the following years, it's slid down to the third spot, and it looks like it's not stopping there. Even in 2024, it didn't even make the top 3. Jan-Peer Laabs, the CEO of Apetito, based in Rheine, attributes this decline to the growing trend towards healthier and more conscious eating. With international and vegetarian dishes gaining favor, it's becoming tough sledding for classic German dishes like Currywurst. Yet, it's not all bad news for hungry Currywurst fans, as it will still hang onto a spot within the top 10.
On the other hand, the beloved Spaghetti Bolognese has reclaimed its title as the most popular dish in German canteens. Chicken Korma rice dish and Bami Goreng noodle dish follow close behind. Interestingly, vegetarian dishes like Cheese Spaetzle and veggie Spaghetti Bolognese are also gaining ground, breaking into the top 5.
Kids Keep it Green
When it comes to kindergartens and schools served by Apetito, children are consuming more vegetarian dishes than canteen guests. Enjoying vegetarian lentil soup, vegetarian Spaghetti Bolognese, and vegetable ravioli, it's clear that kids are getting their green thumbs up. Only fish sticks and chicken fricassee manage to snag spots in the top 10 (fourth and fifth place). Laabs explains that the municipalities and clients determine the menu themselves in many cases, often specifying that fish or meat should only appear once or twice a week, with guidelines from the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) being the best judge. Kids, it seems, are more open to trying new meatless options, loving the taste and embracing the change quite naturally.
Seniors Crave Meat
However, the seniors aren't quite ready to give up their meat dishes just yet. Beef roulade with potatoes and red cabbage takes first place in the most sold dishes in senior facilities, followed by pea soup with sausages and beef and bean stew. It's the potato pancake with apple sauce that sneaks in at fourth place, with Königsberger Klopse dead center at fifth. Older folks tend to cling to their tried-and-true meals, keeping the demand for such meat dishes high. Yet, Laabs notes that seniors are becoming more open to trying new things, even meatless options.
Apetito already makes moves on the global stage, generating around €1.35 billion in revenue in 2023 with 12,649 employees. Young and old alike find nourishment in their canteens, as they adapt to the changing tastes and dietary needs of their customers. The big question remains: what will be the next big thing in German canteen dining?
The CEO of Apetito, Jan-Peer Laabs, attributes the decline of Currywurst in German canteens to the growing trend towards healthier and more conscious eating, with a focus on international and vegetarian dishes.
Despite Currywurst's fall from grace, it will still hold a spot within the top 10 most popular dishes. On the other hand, Spaghetti Bolognese has reclaimed its position as the most popular dish, with vegetarian versions also gaining ground in the top 5.
In kindergartens and schools served by Apetito, children are consuming more vegetarian dishes, demonstrating a preference for green eating. Even in senior facilities, where meat dishes are still popular, the seniors are becoming more open to trying new, meatless options.
As Apetito expands globally, generating around €1.35 billion in revenue in 2023 with 12,649 employees, they continue to adapt to the changing tastes and dietary needs of their customers, including incorporating health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle choices into their offerings through vocational training in food-and-drink, cooking, and science, aiming to provide food that not only tastes good but also promotes health and well-being.
