Number of the month April: 78. That’s how many tons of French fries the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main consumes every year.
A canteen classic that still beats the competition: in 2024, 78,770 kilograms of French fries were consumed in the Studierendenwerk’s entire catering operations with hot food. Pasta was a distant second with 34,485 kilograms. In total, the Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main is responsible for catering for students at six universities at 13 locations. Nine canteens, seven cafeterias and 14 cafés are operated. How has consumption actually developed since the coronavirus pandemic (and the associated temporary closure of catering services)? “Since then, we’ve seen the figures rise again,” explains Sylvia Kobus, Head of PR & IT at Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main. „The consumption of French fries, for example, has risen by around three tons compared to 2023. Overall, we have reached around 80% of the pre-corona level.“
Other figures indicate a significant change in eating habits: in 2017, the ratio of vegetarian and vegan dishes to meat and fish dishes was balanced. By 2022, the ratio had changed to 70% vegetarian and vegan to 30% meat and fish dishes, and this level has been maintained ever since. Incidentally, one year’s consumption amounts to 2865 liters of chili sauce – spicy dishes seem to be popular.
Do students actually want certain dishes that are perhaps not on the menu and turn to the Studierendenwerk? “We occasionally receive such requests,” reports Sylvia Kobus. „We always try to pick up on current trends in gastronomy and communal catering and offer them to our guests. To this end, we are in close contact with suppliers, manufacturers and colleagues from other student services and communal catering. We also monitor our sales figures very closely and adapt our range to meet demand.“
Students (as well as university staff and guests) are offered discounted meals towards the end of the closure of the hot food outlets or the closure of the facilities. Is the offer well received? „This offer is very popular. It’s a win-win situation. German food law requires that food that has already made its way from the kitchen to the serving counter may not be recycled for reasons of food hygiene. We therefore have to dispose of everything that is still in the serving areas when the canteen closes. In order to reduce this food waste as much as possible, we work with an AI-controlled forecasting system for optimized planning of food quantities and with price-reduced serving to our guests in order to make the best possible use of perfectly good food,“ emphasizes Sylvia Kobus. She says that this means less food is thrown away and therefore contributes to sustainability. „We are doing our bit to ensure that less food is wasted, and students benefit from the discounted offer. It also saves resources. Overall, we have been able to reduce the amount of wet waste at Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main by 1/3.“
