Presse – casualfood

Press Release: casualfood GmbH fully transferred to the ORIOR Group with final tranche of shares

15. September 2022/in Press, Company /by presse

casualfood founders Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel are now switching to the strategic advisory board as planned, handing over the management to their successors

As agreed in the strategic partnership established in 2018, ORIOR AG has now acquired the final tranche of shares in casualfood GmbH as of 8 September 2022. The company shares in casualfood GmbH have all been gradually transferred to the listed Swiss food and beverage group as planned. As part of this process, casualfood founders Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel will be withdrawing from the management of casualfood and will be on hand on the newly established strategic advisory board for the next years alongside ORIOR CEO Daniel Lutz and CFO Andreas Lindner.

As of 1 January 2023, the management of casualfood will be handed over to Michael Schorm (previously a member of the Executive Board and Head of Food and Beverage at casualfood) and Andreas Förster (previously a member of the Executive Board and Business Unit Manager for Convenience at casualfood), both of whom have worked for the company for many years. The managing directors report to the management of the ORIOR Group.

Patricia Esseln, who has held the post of Head of Finance and Financial Controlling for ten years now, was appointed a new member of the casualfood Executive Board on 1 August 2022.

The new strategic advisory board will advise, support and supervise the company in terms of its strategic corporate and organisational development. Furthermore, its members will also support the successful future development of the Smartseller concept, a joint venture with Gebr. Heinemann.

“The transfer of individual tranches of shares and the overall takeover of casualfood has all gone smoothly and according to plan. We have had plenty of exciting years behind us since casualfood was founded in 2005, and we have worked together with our team to successfully steer our company through the challenges of the coronavirus crisis. As part of the structured process, we will be handing over the management of our company as of 1 January 2023 to our trusted successors, our long-term colleagues Michael Schorm and Andreas Förster, creating new scope for new business-related projects in addition to our activities on the advisory board,” says Stefan Weber, Managing Partner of casualfood GmbH.

“casualfood’s strategy will remain the same, even after we hand over the management. This will ensure the stability of our company over the long term. From our positions on the strategic advisory board, we will work with our ORIOR colleagues on the board and contribute our many years of expertise to maintain the company’s successful growth trajectory, push ahead with our European expansion and build up our networks. We are delighted to be able to continue to support casualfood in the future,” adds Michael Weigel, Managing Partner of casualfood GmbH.

“Staying true to the slogan ‘The taste of travelling’, Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel have turned a small, mobile pretzel stand into a big name in the travel catering industry. The clever, award-winning business model has been, and will remain, part of the recipe for its success. The two founders have my deepest respect for this. But only by working with them so closely was I able to understand what makes these two people so special: It is their tireless inspiration, pioneering spirit, hands-on mentality, toughness, a good dose of confidence and a strong team that shares precisely these values. A huge thank-you to Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel. We are happy to continue to have you on board as members of the strategic advisory board. In Michael Schorm and Andreas Förster we have two real insiders at casualfood to help maintain the company’s success story. I’m delighted about that and wish the two new managers all the very best,” says Daniel Lutz, CEO of the ORIOR Group.

Authentic, cool and delicious: new Berlin Pub with draught beer and mouth-watering curried sausage in Terminal 1 at BER airport

30. August 2022/in Press /by presse

Now, visitors can find the coolest take on an authentic Berlin bar in Terminal 1 at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. With its new Berlin Pub concept, the travel caterer casualfood combines the atmosphere of a cosy Berlin bar with the modern features of innovative food-service solutions, all with its usual close attention to detail. The city’s bear mascot adorns the walls, giving the pub a real Berlin feel, but its absolute highlight is the view of the busy airport apron.

Press Release: Payment via PayPal QR Code – New service at all casualfood restaurants and stores throughout Germany

2. May 2022/in Press, Company /by presse

casualfood offers the utmost in convenience: customers at all casualfood restaurants and stores in airports and stations throughout Germany can now choose to use PayPal directly at the till. PayPal makes it possible for users to pay for goods in a matter of seconds using a QR code. The technical implementation was handled by epay, a firm specialising in electronic payments, vouchers and prepaid solutions. An interface was used to integrate the solution into the existing checkout system Addipos. casualfood had already worked with epay to introduce the Chinese payment systems Alipay and WeChat Pay alongside classic card payments to cater specifically for Chinese customers.

Press Release: Largest food-service operator at BER – casualfood offering five food-service concepts in the new Terminal 2

28. March 2022/in Press /by presse

After a long delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the new Terminal 2 at Berlin Brandenburg Airport is going into operation. As the largest food-service operator at BER, casualfood is on board with five concepts. For the time being, guests at the new terminal will be able to obtain refreshments from the Deli Berlin mobiles. In the next few weeks, the food court will see the opening of the successful Italo-American deli GOODMAN & FILIPPO; the trendy snack bar Hermann’s; Beans & Barley, which offers high-quality beer and coffee specialities; as well as the nostalgic Berlin Pub. Overall, the travel catering firm operates nine food-service concepts in Terminals 1 and 2 of BER.

Focus on sustainability: casualfood launches collaborations with RECUP and foodsharing.de

18. March 2022/in Press /by presse

Sustainability is becoming more and more important. casualfood has known that for a long time and is a forerunner when it comes to sustainability at airports and stations. Now, the travel catering firm is launching two pilot projects at Frankfurt Airport. From now onwards, RECUP returnable cups will be used at selected casualfood restaurants and stores. As part of a second collaboration, casualfood will also donate food which is still fit for consumption to the foodsharing.de initiative for further use and distribution.

“We all know how important sustainability is to protect our planet. As a forerunner in Germany’s travel catering sector, we think it is very important for us to live up to our role and test sustainable ideas and concepts at our restaurants and stores. If the initiatives are successful, we want to inspire more companies at airports and stations to take part,” say Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel, Managing Directors of casualfood GmbH.

Reducing disposable cups

From March onwards, RECUP cups will be used at seven casualfood outlets in Frankfurt Airport – MONDO Bianco, GOODMAN & FILIPPO, Hermann’s, two QUICKER’s and two Superfood stores. The circular deposit system can substantially reduce the use of disposable cups. Customers pay a deposit of €1 for a RECUP and get this money back when they return the cup. Following the successful completion of the pilot project, there are plans to expand it to all casualfood restaurants and shops at Frankfurt Airport. In addition to this, casualfood is working with the operator Fraport to involve other food-service partners in the initiative so as to achieve across-the-board acceptance. Subsequently, there are plans to use RECUP returnable cups at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport and other airports.

Less food waste

In the future, casualfood will also work with the initiative foodsharing.de to waste less food and prevent it from being thrown away. As part of this collaboration, the charity’s volunteer food savers will initially collect products which are still fit for consumption from Frankfurt Central Railway Station and a QUICKER’s in Terminal 2 at Frankfurt Airport. The food will then be redistributed. If this proves successful, there are plans to extend the partnership.

casualfood steps up its focus on sustainability in 2022

casualfood is aware of its responsibility and has developed a sustainability strategy with an extensive package of measures for 2022. The two pilot projects will kick off the company’s campaign for the year; further sustainability measures will follow. casualfood has been paying close attention to sustainable corporate governance ever since it was established in 2005. It focuses on sustainable products and supply chains, close collaboration with primarily regional suppliers, offering numerous choices for healthy eating, and ensuring that packaging is constantly optimised and designed to be sustainable. On top of all this, the company is a fair, attractive employer which is committed to diversity and equal opportunities and also prioritises occupational health and safety.

About casualfood GmbH

casualfood develops and operates innovative food concepts for airports and stations under its slogan, “The taste of travelling”. Its 14 different catering and convenience store concepts serve a wide-ranging portfolio, from high-quality fast food to an Italo-American deli concept. The company’s proprietary concepts – QUICKER’s, Superfood, basta!, MONDO, MONDO Bianco, Hermann’s, Kilkenny, GOODMAN & FILIPPO, Brezel Lovers and Beans & Barley – the new concepts east side berlin, Berlin Pub and Deli Berlin, and the Kamps and ServiceStore DB brands which are run as franchises are a common sight at transport hubs. Thanks to its successful combination of an attractive product range and a clear brand profile, the owner-run firm has become a leading travel catering company. More information is available at www.casualfood.de.

About reCup GmbH

Established in September 2016 by Fabian Eckert and Florian Pachaly, reCup GmbH offers a simple, attractive and sustainable alternative to disposable packaging with its RECUP and REBOWL deposit systems, which are available throughout Germany. The circular deposit system is based on 100% reusable RECUP and REBOWL containers for takeaway beverages and food. More than 10,600 places throughout Germany hand out and take back the cups and bowls in exchange for a deposit. These outlets range from cafés and restaurants to bakeries, kiosks, company canteens and petrol stations. Trials are already under way with various food delivery service providers as well. Awarded Germany’s Blue Angel ecolabel, the company aims to make disposable packaging superfluous, further raise society’s awareness of packaging waste and encourage people to rethink their consumer behaviour in general. More information is available at www.recup.de.

About foodsharing.de

Since 2012, the foodsharing movement has been stopping tonnes of good food from going to waste every day. Our volunteers distribute it for free between private individuals, among friends, to neighbours, and to homeless shelters, schools and nurseries, or via the website foodsharing.de. Publicly accessible shelves and community fridges (“freedges”) are available for anyone to use. More than 373,000 people from Germany, Austria and Switzerland regularly use the website to share food instead of binning it. On top of this, more than 94,000 people now act as volunteer food savers by collecting surplus food from bakeries, supermarkets, canteens and wholesalers then distributing it. This happens continuously more than 500 times a day, with food being collected from 9,250 partners. More information is available at www.foodsharing.de.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport one year on – casualfood sums up the first year as the largest food-service operator at BER: “Things are looking up; there’s a spirit of optimism at the airport!”

6. October 2021/in Press /by presse

One year ago, Berlin Brandenburg Airport went online at a challenging time in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The travel catering firm casualfood has been at the airport since the very start as its largest food-service operator – with a total of nine permanent outlets plus several mobiles in Terminals 1 and 2. Although the first few months were sluggish, there is now plenty going on at BER as it reaches its first anniversary: there are more outlets, more employees, more passengers and more customers using the eateries and stores.

Press Release: Next step at BER airport – Deli Berlin opens with a large terrace on Willy-Brandt-Platz

18. August 2021/in Press /by presse

Following the opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, another first-rate food-service outlet starts serving customers there today. Deli Berlin offers an innovative food concept along with a large terrace immediately on Willy-Brandt-Platz, overlooking the main entrance to the airport. Providing a genuine taste of Berlin, the trendy, urban all-day concept has adopted the Berlin bear as its logo mascot. It is a feel-good place to eat with a cosy, friendly atmosphere, chill-out music and an introduction to Berlin dialect. Thanks to its attractive location, Deli Berlin does not just welcome air passengers: it is also open to hotel guests and other visitors who want to enjoy delicious food in a laid-back atmosphere.

becasual Nr. 1/2021

5. May 2021/in Newsletter /by sysadmin

The “new normal” in the travel catering business after Corona.

Press Release: BER opens – casualfood is the largest food-service operator at the new airport

2. November 2020/in Press, Company /by presse

The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport has opened. casualfood is the largest food-service operator at the airport with a total of twelve permanent outlets plus several mobiles in Terminals 1, 2 and 5. The travel catering firm has developed three new food-service brands for BER: east side berlin, Berlin Pub and Deli Berlin plus the associated Deli Berlin Mobiles offer a genuine taste of Berlin. They draw on the city’s history and offer guests a wide range of dishes from both East and West Berlin. Customers will also find casualfood’s established, successful concepts at the airport: Goodman & Filippo, Hermann’s, Beans & Barley, basta!, Kilkenny Pub, QUICKER’s and Kamps, which is run as a franchise. The majority of casualfood’s food-service concepts at BER are on the air side, i.e. after security.