LB Catering

What LB Catering does

LB-Catering GmbH & Co.KG is a family-owned German company headquartered in Stadtallendorf, Hesse, tracing its origins to the Bachhuber Kaffeevertrieb wholesale and retail coffee business founded in 1923. Operating with a 50-person team, the company serves approximately 500 customers across three integrated business areas: vending and consumables distribution, party and event catering, and managed vending operations. The legal entity LB-Catering GmbH & Co.KG was formed in 2009, operating alongside LB Automaten Operating GmbH & Co. KG, with Ludwig Bachhuber, Jörg Bachhuber, and Anja Angiargiu-Bachhuber serving as managing directors.

The company's vending arm distributes, installs, and services third-party manufactured equipment from brands including Animo, Rhea/laRhea, Sielaff, Jura, Azkoyen, Luce, and Faema, covering hot beverages, cold beverages, water dispensers, snacks, fresh food, and organic vending. Differentiated machines include the Sielaff SÜ-series spiral automaten with dual temperature zones and FIFO/soft-drop handling, the iF Design Award 2018-winning Animo Optibean Touch, and the Luce X2 with patented SpeedMix brewing at 16,000 RPM. Hardware distribution is supplemented with a WooCommerce-based B2B e-commerce platform (gewerbekunden.cafecoolsnack.de) selling coffee beans, capsules, instant beverages, and private-label products such as LB Premium Kaffee, Café Alessio, LB Kakaomix, and LB Wiener Melange. The events division offers traditional catering, mobile catering (LB-Mobil — 'the fast Italian'), the Scheune 1851 event venue in Willingshausen-Wasenberg, and an in-house vinotheque.

Revenue is generated through four streams: vending machine hardware sales, Voll-/Teiloperating managed service contracts that handle supply, filling, cleaning, and maintenance on customer sites, recurring consumable sales through the B2B online shop priced between €6.99/kg and €42 per 100 capsules, and event catering. Distribution is domestic, with on-site service delivered regionally across Central Hesse and nationwide reach limited to the online consumables shop at a €10.50 flat shipping rate. Customer acquisition relies on direct consultative sales by the Bachhuber family, supported by the corporate website, a Facebook page, and job postings that signal ongoing hiring. No external investors, public shareholders, or institutional backing are present; ownership remains concentrated within the Bachhuber family.

Name

LB Catering

Legal name

LB-Catering GmbH & Co.KG

Website

https://cafecoolsnack.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LB-Catering GmbH & Co.KG is a family-owned German vending and catering company serving approximately 500 industrial, government, and hospitality customers with automated beverage and snack machines, managed operating services, consumables e-commerce, and event catering from Stadtallendorf, Hesse.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automated Vending and Catering Services

NAICS

Vending Machine Operators (445132), Mobile Food Services (72233), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAFAIAH

Contract Foodservice Management (Outsourced Catering)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Catering & Banquet Foodservice

SECONDARYTHAFAIAJ

Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Catering & Banquet Foodservice

Keywords

• Vending machine supply
• Automatic catering systems
• B2B coffee distribution
• Event catering services
• Vending operations management

Headquarters

HQ city

Stadtallendorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vending Machine Sales and Service: Sale, installation, and maintenance of hot beverage machines, cold beverage machines, and snack/food vending machines. Provides full-operating services including delivery, filling, cleaning and maintenance, as well as partial-operating where customers handle some tasks themselves.
2. Coffee and Consumables E-commerce: B2B online shop selling coffee beans, capsules, instant coffee, cocoa, milk powder, tea, and specialty beverages. Products include Lavazza, Eilles, Bueno, and house brand items.
3. Operating Services (Voll-/Teiloperating): Full-service operating model where LB Catering handles complete automated catering including supply, filling, cleaning and maintenance. Partial-operating model available where customers handle filling and cleaning themselves.
4. Party Service and Catering: Catering services including mobile catering (LB-Mobil), party service for weddings, family celebrations, corporate events, and buffets. Also operates a vinotheque and event venue (Scheune 1851).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LB Catering distributes, installs, and services automated vending machines for hot beverages, cold beverages, and snacks/food at business customer locations across Germany. The company also runs a B2B online shop selling coffee, capsules, and consumables, and offers event catering services including a mobile catering unit (LB-Mobil), party service, an event venue (Scheune 1851), and a wine shop (Vinothek). Operating service models (Volloperating and Teiloperating) cover supply, filling, cleaning, and maintenance of equipment at customer sites.

Product overview

LB-Catering GmbH & Co.KG is a full-line vending and catering company founded in 1923, operating as a unified business with three main divisions: (1) Vending Machines & Shop - offering hot beverage machines (including Animo Optibean Touch, OptiMe, Rhea Business Line, Jura WE8/GiGa, Sielaff, Azkoyen, Luce, Emblema, rhTT series, Faema E71), cold beverage machines (Spaqua, WL 350, Waterlogic 4, Coldy S/V), and snack/fresh food machines (Spiral Automat, Smart-Waiter, Bioautomaten, SNAC R MAXI), along with a B2B online shop selling coffee products and private-label beverages; (2) Party & Events - providing catering services (Partyservice), mobile catering units (LB-Mobil), event venues (Scheune 1851), and a wine shop (Vinothek); (3) Full/Partial Vending Operations - managing complete vending solutions including supply, refilling, cleaning, and maintenance. The company serves approximately 500 customers in industrial, governmental, and gastronomy sectors with a team of 50 employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LB-Mobil: Mobile catering service branded as 'der flotte Italiener' (the fast Italian), offering coffee specialties, freshly tapped beer, and Prosecco for events and celebrations.
• Scheune 1851
• LB Vinothek

Products and services

• Animo Optibean Touch Intelligent espresso machine with touchscreen interface, intuitive user interface, and 24 programmable drinks for offices and break rooms.
• Animo OptiMe Compact coffee Vollautomat with 360° design, dual bean hoppers, touchscreen, and Ditting ceramic burr grinder producing up to 125 drinks daily.
• Rhea Business Line IC Compact hot beverage machine with color display, touch selection, and Variflex technology for perfect coffee extraction.
• Rhea Business Line Grande Hot beverage machine with SpeedMix preparation, 12 direct selections, and color display for coffee specialties.
• laRhea V+ iC Compact hot beverage machine for low daily requirements starting from 15 cups with elegant silhouette and V+ technology.
• laRhea V+ Grande Bestseller hot beverage machine with hybrid technology, Xtra container for Fairtrade instant products, color display, and touch selection.
• Jura WE8 Professional automatic coffee machine with 3L water tank, 500g bean container, 25-portion grounds container, and One-Touch function for specialty coffees.
• Jura GiGa Series Professional-grade Jura coffee machine series for high-volume locations.
• Sielaff Siamonie Series Sielaff hot beverage machine series for offices and break rooms.
• Sielaff eC Sielaff espresso and coffee machine for professional locations.
• Azkoyen Zen Azkoyen hot beverage machine.
• Azkoyen Novara Azkoyen espresso machine.
• luce zero.0 Compact hot beverage machine with 16 selection options and Variflex 9g technology for whole bean coffee.
• luce zero.2 To-go hot beverage solution with 24 selection options, Variflex 14g, dual boiler systems, and 2 cup sizes.
• Luce X2 Fully illuminated standing hot beverage machine with SpeedMix system for coffee specialties and A.R.T. programming.
• Emblema A/2 Auto Steam Automatic espresso coffee machine with microprocessor control, Smart Boiler technology, and Giugiaro design.
• Sofia Bianchi Semi-professional espresso machine for hospitality use.
• rhTT1 V+ Hot beverage machine combining design and ergonomics with 7- or 10-inch touchscreen for customizable user interfaces.
• rhTT3 Pro Hot beverage machine combining design and functionality, featuring online telemetry management for recipes and product containers.
• Faema E71 Professional espresso machine of top-class quality.
• Spiral Automat SÜ 2020 HighSec LM Sielaff spiral vending machine for farm shops, butcheries, and retail, featuring adjustable stainless steel compartments, soft-drop lift for fresh produce, dairy, eggs, and vegetables, with dual temperature zones (approx. +15°C upper and <+4°C lower).
• Smart-Waiter Necta food vending machine with 60-360 product capacity, First-In/First-Out system, and compact design for integration into vending stations.
• Bioautomaten (Organic Vending Machines) Vending machines for organic/bio food products.
• SNAC R MAXI Snack vending machine for sweets, sandwiches, and complete meals.
• Spaqua Water dispenser offering still unchilled, chilled still, and carbonated chilled water options with filtered tap water.
• WL 350 Compact table-top water dispenser for small offices, pantries, waiting rooms, and medical practices.
• Waterlogic 4 Water dispenser with active carbon filtration and UV technology, available in still, hot, carbonated, and combination models.
• Coldy S High-tech cold beverage vending machine offering up to 496 drinks with 10 selection options, fully illuminated front doors, and variable compartment system.
• Coldy V Cool beverage vending machine with modular construction, individual compartment control for bottles and cans, and electronic temperature monitoring.
• LB-Catering Online Shop B2B online shop for coffee products, capsules, beans, instant coffee, cocoa, milk powder, tea, and specialties (Lavazza, Eilles, Bueno, and house brand items).
• LB-Catering Private Label Coffee and Beverage Products House brand coffee and beverage products including LB Premium Kaffee, LB Crema, Café Alessio, LB Topping, LB Kakaomix, LB Barista Premium, LB Wiener Melange, and specialty drinks.
• Volloperating and Teiloperating (Vending Operations Service) Full or partial vending machine operating services, including supply, refilling, cleaning, and maintenance of sales vending machines at customer sites.
• LB-Mobil Mobile Catering Mobile catering unit branded as 'der flotte Italiener' (the fast Italian), serving coffee specialties, freshly tapped beer, and Prosecco at events and celebrations.
• Partyservice (Catering) Full-service catering for weddings, family celebrations, corporate events, and conferences with experienced team consultation.
• Scheune 1851 Event Venue Exclusive event venue in Willingshausen-Weiershain (referenced as Willingshausen-Wasenberg) for weddings, family celebrations, corporate events, and conferences.
• Vinothek (Wine Shop) Wine shop offering high-quality wines for various occasions, located at the company premises in Stadtallendorf.

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day or within 24-hour repair/maintenance response time
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Various Equipment Manufacturers (Lavazza, Jura, Sielaff, Animo, Faema, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, etc.)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2005LB Catering works exclusively with renowned manufacturers whose quality standards are as high as those of their customers. Partners include major brands in coffee equipment (Lavazza, Jura, Animo, Faema), vending machines (Sielaff), and beverage suppliers (Coca-Cola, Nestlé). The company holds premium partner status with select manufacturers.
• SielaffcoreTechnology or IntegrationSielaff is a key vending machine manufacturer partner, supplying spiral vending machines and coffee equipment including the Siamonie series and eC models.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Selecta: Pan-European vending and coffee services operator running full-operating vending at workplaces, transport hubs, and public spaces. Directly comparable to LB Catering's Volloperating model, scaled across multiple European countries with similar machine brands and contract foodservice approach.
• Café+Co: Austrian-headquartered vending, coffee, and micro-market operator active across Central Europe (DE/AT/CH/CZ). Closely comparable business model to LB Catering's Volloperating services with overlapping target customers in industrial, government, and hospitality segments.
• Westa GmbH: German regional vending machine operator providing full-service operating contracts to industrial, public, and gastronomy accounts. Direct comparability with LB Catering across operating-service model, regional German footprint, and target customer segments.
• Dallmayr: Iconic German coffee and vending machine operator with deep heritage, serving offices, gastronomy, and retail with full-service coffee/vending. Comparable to LB Catering across coffee expertise, B2B operating contracts, and long-standing brand presence in Germany.

Emerging players

• Coffee Fellows: German coffee/QSR chain combining in-store cafés with packaged coffee retail and B2B service. Partial overlap with LB Catering's coffee/vending expertise and German market focus, but with a hospitality-led rather than operating-services-led model.

Broad incumbents

• Melitta Group: German coffee, filter, and professional coffee solutions group with B2B coffee service and equipment divisions. Comparable in coffee category depth and German roots, though operating at corporate/industrial scale well beyond LB Catering's regional footprint.
• Tchibo: Major German coffee, QSR, and non-food retailer with broad consumer reach and B2B coffee service offerings. Overlaps with LB Catering in coffee category leadership and B2B customer access, but operates at vastly larger scale and through retail rather than vending specialization.
• Lavazza: Italian global coffee group with a professional/office coffee business (Lavazza Professional) and vending partnerships. Comparable to LB Catering via Lavazza-branded equipment and beans supplied through premium partnerships, though at portfolio-brand scale rather than local operator scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/scheune1851

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LB Catering