Berlin Table
Berliner Tafel e.V. is Germany's first food bank (founded 1993), collecting surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, and trade fairs to redistribute to ~170,000 people monthly across Berlin via 400+ social institutions and 48 distribution points, entirely funded by donations and 3,800+ volunteers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Berlin Table does
Berliner Tafel e.V. is Germany's first food bank, founded in 1993 in Berlin by Sabine Werth. The organization collects unsold but fresh surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and trade fairs (notably Grüne Woche and Fruit Logistica) and redistributes it to individuals and institutions facing food poverty. Operations are structured around three pillars: Berliner Tafel Klassik (bulk supply to 400+ social institutions), LAIB und SEELE (48 church-based distribution points serving 75,000–78,000 individuals monthly, jointly run with Berlin churches and broadcaster rbb since 2005), and KIMBA (children's cooking education program). The organization supports approximately 170,000 people monthly and distributes roughly 8,000 tonnes of food per year through a volunteer base of over 3,800 people coordinated from a central sorting/warehouse facility at the Berlin wholesale market (Beusselstr. 44 N-Q, Halle 1).
The business model is entirely donation-driven: revenue streams comprise annual membership dues, monetary donations from individuals and corporations, in-kind food donations, and creative fundraising programs (e.g., "MIT SINN SERVIERT" restaurant partnerships, "Suppe mit Sinn," "Spende Dein Pfand" bottle collections at Berlin airports, "Eins mehr!" supermarket campaigns, and testamentary giving). The organization explicitly avoids state funding (except limited lottery funds for building renovation) to preserve operational independence. It runs lean with 11–50 paid staff, supplemented by 3,800+ volunteers and partnerships with THW, the Berlin Fire Department, Red Cross, IHK Berlin (digitalization), and major supermarket chains (EDEKA, Rewe, Kaufland, Lidl). There is no proprietary technology stack beyond standard donation processing (PayPal, Klarna/Sofort, FundraisingBox) and web analytics (Google Analytics, Matomo); the core operational capability is logistics and volunteer coordination rather than software. The organization has inspired nearly 960 food banks across Germany.
Berlin Table firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Berlin Table
- Legal name
- Berliner Tafel e.V.
- Website
- https://berliner-tafel.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Berliner Tafel e.V. is Germany's first food bank (founded 1993), collecting surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, and trade fairs to redistribute to ~170,000 people monthly across Berlin via 400+ social institutions and 48 distribution points, entirely funded by donations and 3,800+ volunteers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Berlin Table industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Bank and Charitable Food Redistribution
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA)
Keywords
Where Berlin Table is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Berlin Table business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Member dues: Annual membership fees from organizational and individual members who support the Berliner Tafel financially and ideologically.
- Monetary donations: Direct monetary contributions from individuals, corporations, and organizations to support food collection and distribution operations.
- Food donations: In-kind food donations from supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and events (Grüne Woche, Fruit Logistica) that are redistributed to those in need.
- Corporate partnerships: Partnership programs such as 'MIT SINN SERVIERT' where restaurants donate a portion of sales, 'Suppe mit Sinn' where euro per soup is donated, and 'Spende Dein Pfand' bottle collection at airports.
- Food sales (symbolic): LAIB und SEELE recipients pay a symbolic amount for food packages, making it accessible while maintaining dignity.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Berlin Table product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Berliner Tafel e.V. is a registered charitable organization that collects surplus but fresh food from supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and large events, then redistributes it free of charge (or for a symbolic contribution) to impoverished individuals and to charitable social institutions. It operates three core programs: Berliner Tafel Klassik (bulk food supply to 400+ social institutions), LAIB und SEELE (48 church-based food parcel distribution points serving 75,000-78,000 individuals monthly), and KIMBA (children's cooking and nutrition education). Supplementary activities include volunteer coordination across 3,800+ volunteers, corporate and supermarket donation campaigns, and legacy giving programs.
Product overview
Berlin Table operates as a three-pillar charitable organization: Berliner Tafel Klassik supplies food to 400+ social institutions with 1,700+ volunteers; LAIB und SEELE provides food parcels to 75,000-78,000 impoverished individuals monthly at 48 distribution locations in partnership with Berlin churches and broadcaster rbb; and KIMBA offers cooking courses for children and youth. Supplementary programs include the Eins Mehr! supermarket food donation campaigns, MIT SINN SERVIERT restaurant partnership, and legacy giving. Founded in 1993 as Germany's first food bank.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Berliner Tafel Klassik Core food redistribution program supplying unsold but fresh food to over 400 social institutions in Berlin including homeless shelters, women's shelters, housing facilities, and community centers. Over 1,700 volunteers collect, sort, and distribute the food.
- LAIB und SEELE Joint action with Berlin churches and rbb broadcaster providing food parcels to impoverished individuals at 48 distribution locations across Berlin (plus 7 interim points). Approximately 75,000-78,000 people are served monthly, paying only a symbolic contribution to preserve dignity.
- KIMBA (Kinder-IMBiss-Aktiv) Children and youth nutrition education program offering cooking courses where schoolchildren learn about conscious handling of food. Operates from the KIMBAexpress railway wagon kitchen classroom (relocated to Deutsches Technikmuseum in March 2023). Open to all schoolchildren regardless of family income. Approximately 120 volunteers support the program.
- MIT SINN SERVIERT Year-round dining campaign where participating restaurants donate a portion of sales from selected menu items to Berliner Tafel.
- Eins Mehr! Campaign Seasonal food donation collection campaign (Easter, harvest festival, Christmas) at supermarkets where shoppers purchase one extra item to donate, conducted in partnership with EDEKA, Rewe, Kaufland, and Lidl stores.
- Testamentary Donations / Testamentspende Legacy giving program offering guidance and consultation on including Berliner Tafel in wills and estates, supported by a downloadable testament guide.
- Tauschladen Haltbar Exchange shop for durable goods operating as part of the Sachspenden (in-kind donations) program.
Quantifiable outcome
- Distributes 660 tonnes of food monthly (nearly 8,000 tonnes annually)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Berlin Table
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Berlin Table technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Berlin Table partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, major, core and regular.
- Deutsches Technikmuseum (German Museum of Technology)strategicMuseum hosts the KIMBAexpress, a renovated train car for children's cooking courses. Joint cooperation celebrating 40th museum anniversary and 30th Berliner Tafel anniversary.
- THW (Technisches Hilfswerk)majorFederal Agency for Technical Relief provides logistics support for transporting collected food from events like Fruit Logistica and Grüne Woche using their fleet of trucks.
- Churches (Evangelische und Katholische Kirchen)coreLong-standing partnership with Protestant and Catholic churches in Berlin. Churches host the 48 LAIB und SEELE distribution points, provide volunteers, and co-develop the food distribution program with Berliner Tafel and rbb.
- rbb (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg)corePublic broadcaster rbb is a founding partner of LAIB und SEELE, providing media coverage and support for the food distribution initiative.
- EDEKA, Rewe, Kaufland, Lidl (Supermarkets)coreMajor supermarket chains donate surplus food and participate in 'Eins mehr!' collection campaigns where customers can donate extra items.
- Berliner Feuerwehr (Fire Department)majorVolunteer fire department personnel assist with transporting food from major events.
- Berliner Rotes Kreuz (Red Cross)majorBerlin Red Cross provides volunteer support and truck logistics for food rescue operations.
- MyPlace-SelfStorageregularStorage company hosts 'Weihnachtsfreude weitergeben' donation collection campaign, collecting toys, household items, and food for Berliner Tafel recipients.
- IHK Berlin (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)strategicDigitalization support project. IHK's Digital Economy Committee assists Berliner Tafel with digital workflow improvement, connecting the nonprofit with tech companies for volunteer solutions.
- Messe BerlinmajorHost venue for Fruit Logistica and Grüne Woche. Enables food collection by providing access to surplus food after events conclude.
- Goldnetz gGmbHregularNonprofit company provides employment for long-term unemployed people who serve as 'Pfandbeauftragte' (deposit officers) for the 'Spende Dein Pfand' bottle collection program at airports.
- Flughafen Berlin (Berlin Airports)regularTegel and Schönefeld airports host 'Spende Dein Pfand' collection bins where travelers can donate bottle deposits.
- Wall GmbHregularAdvertising company provides free billboard space for Berliner Tafel campaign 'Die Stadt leuchtet grün' (The City Glows Green), displaying messaging January-March.
- Hotels and RestaurantsregularFood donation from hotel and restaurant kitchens, including 'Suppe mit Sinn' and 'MIT SINN SERVIERT' programs.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Berlin Table competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Feeding America: Largest US hunger-relief nonprofit, a network of 200+ member food banks. Serves as the broadest US reference point for food bank operations, donor/supplier relationships, and food rescue logistics — comparable in mission and structure though at materially greater scale.
- City Harvest: New York-based food rescue nonprofit that directly inspired Sabine Werth to found Berliner Tafel in 1993. Operates an analogous model (collecting surplus food and distributing to social institutions and individuals) at significantly larger scale, providing a relevant international comparison.
Emerging players
- Too Good To Go: Commercial app-based marketplace connecting consumers with surplus food from restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets. Operates in Germany and intersects with the same supermarket surplus supply chain that feeds Berliner Tafel's distribution model.
- SirPlus: German social enterprise that sells surplus and 'imperfect' food online at discount. Competes with Berliner Tafel for retailer surplus inventory by offering a commercial monetization path, representing a partial overlap in donor/supplier ecosystem.
Others
- European Food Banks Federation (FEBA): European umbrella for food bank organizations. Berliner Tafel's German Tafel affiliates sit within this network, making FEBA a relevant ecosystem peer for benchmarking, partnership, and policy advocacy.
- Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization and a major recipient of Berliner Tafel's institutional food supply (e.g., shelters, women's shelters). Closely related through the supply chain and overlapping social-services beneficiaries.
- Die Heilsarmee (Salvation Army Germany): International charitable organization running food programs, shelters, and social services across Germany. Operates as both a recipient of surplus food redistribution and a parallel provider of food aid to overlapping beneficiary populations.
- Diakonie Deutschland: Welfare arm of Germany's Protestant churches and a core institutional recipient of Berliner Tafel food. Operates parallel social services (homeless shelters, refugee housing) and is a strategic ally in the LAIB und SEELE church-based distribution model.
Direct peers
- Tafel Deutschland (Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel e.V.): National umbrella organization for Germany's 960+ Tafeln. Berliner Tafel is the founding member and most prominent local Tafel; both operate food bank / food rescue models serving low-income populations via volunteer-driven redistribution.
- Foodsharing e.V. Germany-based nonprofit operating a digital sharing platform that redistributes surplus food from businesses to individuals. Competes for the same surplus-food supply from supermarkets and restaurants and serves overlapping beneficiary segments across Germany.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Berlin Table social profiles
Digital presenceBerlin Table financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Berlin Table leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Berlin Table funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Berlin Table M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Berlin Table
What does Berlin Table do?
Berliner Tafel e.V. is a registered charitable organization that collects surplus but fresh food from supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and large events, then redistributes it free of charge (or for a symbolic contribution) to impoverished individuals and to charitable social institutions. It operates three core programs: Berliner Tafel Klassik (bulk food supply to 400+ social institutions), LAIB und SEELE (48 church-based food parcel distribution points serving 75,000-78,000 individuals monthly), and KIMBA (children's cooking and nutrition education). Supplementary activities include volunteer coordination across 3,800+ volunteers, corporate and supermarket donation campaigns, and legacy giving programs.
Is Berlin Table a public or private company?
Berlin Table is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Berlin Table founded?
Berlin Table was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Berlin Table based?
Berlin Table is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Berlin Table make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Member dues are the primary driver. The others are monetary donations, food donations, corporate partnerships and food sales (symbolic).
Who are Berlin Table's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Feeding America and City Harvest. Emerging players are Too Good To Go and SirPlus. Others are European Food Banks Federation (FEBA), Caritas Deutschland, Die Heilsarmee (Salvation Army Germany) and Diakonie Deutschland. Direct peers are Tafel Deutschland (Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel e.V.) and Foodsharing e.V..
Does Berlin Table have an API?
No public API is recorded for Berlin Table.
What industry is Berlin Table in?
Berlin Table's product category is Food Bank and Charitable Food Redistribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAA, Food Assistance & Food Banks, with a secondary code of BPAGAAAD, Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding). Its NAICS code is 624210 and its SIC code is 5141.