What Tafel Leipzig does

Tafel Leipzig e.V. is a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Leipzig, Germany, founded in 1996, that operates a regional food bank serving low-income residents of Leipzig and surrounding areas. Its core function is collecting surplus food from corporate and individual donors—including retailers, manufacturers, bakeries, and volunteers—and redistributing it through six physical distribution points (Ausgabestellen) located in Leipzig-Lindenau (Zentrale), Volkmarsdorf, Paunsdorf, Markranstädt, Markkleeberg, and Borna. Customers must register and qualify through income documentation (Leipzig-Pass, Bürgergeld, ALG, or Wohngeld). The organization uses no proprietary technology; its operations run on standard charity management tooling and the tafel-leipzig.de website, supplemented by community-driven social media and earned media such as MDR television coverage.

Beyond core food distribution, Tafel Leipzig operates a portfolio of community programs: the Tafelgärten community garden project (run in cooperation with Wabe e.V., the Stadtverband der Kleingärtner, and the Arbeitsagentur since 2007, producing fruits and vegetables through vocational integration); the Wunschzettelpaten Christmas gift sponsorship program; an annual Kinderweihnachtsfeier serving 450+ children; the Kinderferienlager seasonal holiday camps for children of Tafel families; and a hot meal service (Mittagessen) operated Monday–Friday 12:00–14:00 in partnership with Volkssolidarität Leipzig-Wurzen e.V. and open to Leipzig-Pass holders. The organization also runs the 'Wir Spenden Alles' donor certification initiative launched in 2023.

Tafel Leipzig receives no public funding and operates as a standalone charitable entity under Vorstandsvorsitzender Dr. Werner Wehmer, with no parent company or subsidiaries. Its revenue model rests entirely on private monetary donations, in-kind food and product contributions, volunteer time, and modest customer cost-sharing (€5 adult, €2 child; hot meals €2.50–€3.50). Key named financial and in-kind partners include Lidl (via Pfandspende), RB Leipzig (2020 COVID-era funding), Bäckerei Lampe, Volkssolidarität Leipzig-Wurzen e.V., Wabe e.V., Leipziger Kinder- und Familienförderung e.V., and MDR ('Hier ab Vier'). Distribution capacity has been a binding constraint, evidenced by an August 2024 registration freeze due to low food donations.

Name

Tafel Leipzig

Legal name

Tafel Leipzig e.V.

Website

https://tafel-leipzig.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Tafel Leipzig e.V. is a Leipzig-based nonprofit food bank, founded in 1996, that collects surplus food and redistributes it through six distribution points across Leipzig and surrounding towns to income-qualified low-income residents, supplementing this with community programs including children's holiday camps, Christmas gift sponsorship, and a hot meal service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank / Charitable Food Distribution

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Food rescue distribution
• Charitable food assistance
• Community food programs
• Humanitarian aid services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leipzig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Contributions: Tafel Leipzig operates as a private humanitarian organization that receives no public funding. Revenue comes from monetary donations, food and product donations from businesses, and small membership/contribution fees (5€ adults, 2€ children). The organization also benefits from volunteer time contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tafel Leipzig e.V. collects surplus food from retailers, manufacturers, and bakeries and redistributes it to qualified low-income residents of Leipzig and surrounding towns through six physical distribution points (Ausgabestellen). Recipients must register and verify income eligibility (Leipzig-Pass, Bürgergeld, ALG, or Wohngeld). The organization also runs supplementary social programs including a hot lunch service, a community garden project (Tafelgärten), a Christmas gift sponsorship program (Wunschzettelpaten), children's Christmas celebrations, and holiday camps for children of Tafel customers.

Product overview

Tafel Leipzig e.V. is a charitable food bank organization operating as a unified service model with multiple distribution points across Leipzig and surrounding areas. The core service is food distribution (Lebensmittelausgabe) to registered customers with income documentation, supplemented by various social programs including a Christmas gift sponsorship program (Wunschzettelpaten), community garden project (Tafelgärten), hot meal service, children's Christmas celebration, and holiday camps. The organization does not operate a traditional software product platform but provides charitable services focused on food aid and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lebensmittelausgabe (Food Distribution Service) Core food distribution service that collects surplus food from donors and redistributes it to registered customers who verify low income through Leipzig-Pass, Bürgergeld, ALG, or Wohngeld documentation, delivered through six distribution points across Leipzig and surrounding towns.
• Mittagessen (Hot Lunch Service) Hot meal service providing freshly cooked, affordable, and healthy lunches to Tafel customers and Leipzig-Pass holders Monday through Friday, 12:00 to 14:00, with weekly menus priced from €2.50 to €3.50, delivered in partnership with Volkssolidarität Leipzig-Wurzen e.V.
• Tafelgärten (Community Garden Project) Agricultural project run in cooperation with Wabe e.V. where vegetables and fruits are grown on vacant garden plots; produce is distributed to needy Leipzig residents through vocational rehabilitation measures, with several hundred tons of food produced and distributed since 2007.
• Wunschzettelpaten (Gift Sponsorship Program) Christmas gift sponsorship program where donors fulfill wish lists for children from Tafel families; sponsors receive children's wishes via email and provide wrapped gifts for the annual children's Christmas celebration.
• Kinderweihnachtsfeier (Children's Christmas Celebration) Annual Christmas event at the Lindenau headquarters where over 450 children from all distribution points receive presents, sweets, and enjoy activities like crafting, face painting, and food stalls.
• Kinderferienlager (Children's Holiday Camp) Holiday camp program for Tafel children in cooperation with Leipziger Kinder- und Familienförderung e.V., featuring outdoor activities, team building, and cooking education, with Lidl Pfandspende funding the program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 children served through various programs annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• MDR (Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk) - Hier ab ViersupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026MDR television show 'Hier ab Vier' organized and distributed warm knitted items (socks, scarves, hats, sweaters) from 'Strickomas' volunteers to Tafel customers during winter. Annual tradition providing handcrafted winter clothing.
• Leipziger Kinder- und Familienförderung e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for organizing winter and summer holiday camps for children of Tafel customers. The 2025 winter camp in Auerbach served 40 children with activities including outdoor games and cooking.
• Volkssolidarität Leipzig-Wurzen e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration for cooking events and hot meal service. On November 5, 2025, jointly prepared Schnitzel with Kroketten and Kaisergemüse for Tafel customers. Volkssolidarität serves fresh, affordable, and healthy lunch Monday to Friday 12-14 Uhr.
• Wabe e.V. (Verein Wabe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Träger (operator) of the Tafel Leipzig gardens project (Tafelgärten) since 2007. In cooperation with the Stadtverband der Kleingärtner and Arbeitsagentur, the project produces fruits and vegetables in vacant garden plots for distribution to needy Leipzig residents through vocational integration programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Volkssolidarität Leipzig-Wurzen e.V. Regional social welfare organization that operates Tafel Leipzig's hot meal service (Mon–Fri 12–14h). Comparable as a Leipzig-region nonprofit providing social services (meals, support) to low-income and elderly populations, including Leipzig-Pass holders.
• Münchner Tafel e.V. Munich-based food bank running 14+ distribution points with similar surplus-food redistribution model, volunteer-driven operations, and corporate partnerships. Highly comparable in mission, scale, and customer base to Tafel Leipzig.
• Leipziger Kinder- und Familienförderung e.V. Local Leipzig nonprofit partner that co-organizes Tafel Leipzig's children's holiday camps. Operates as a peer community-services organization in the same city, targeting overlapping beneficiary populations (children of low-income families) with complementary social programs.
• Berliner Tafel e.V. Largest regional Tafel in Germany, distributing rescued food to those in need across Berlin. Operates the same food-bank model with regional distribution points and corporate donor partnerships, directly comparable in service delivery and target population.

Emerging players

• foodsharing e.V. German food-rescue nonprofit operating a sharing platform that redistributes surplus food from businesses directly to consumers and social organizations. Comparable mission of reducing food waste and feeding those in need, but uses a decentralized volunteer-collection model rather than fixed distribution points.
• SirPlus GmbH: Berlin-based social enterprise that rescues surplus food from manufacturers and retailers and resells it at discounted prices. Comparable in the surplus-food supply chain and target segment (price-conscious consumers), but uses a commercial discount-retail model rather than donation-based distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: Largest U.S. hunger-relief nonprofit network, operating 200+ food banks and 60,000 pantries nationwide. Comparable in mission, food-rescue model, and reliance on corporate and individual donations, though at vastly greater scale and operating under different regulatory frameworks.
• Too Good To Go GmbH: Pan-European mobile app that connects consumers with surplus food from restaurants and retailers. Indirectly comparable in food-waste reduction mission; however, operates a commercial consumer marketplace rather than a charity distribution model, serving a different customer base.
• Tafel Deutschland e.V. National umbrella organization of the German Tafel movement, of which Tafel Leipzig is a member. Coordinates policy, donor relationships, and best practices across 960+ local Tafeln — directly comparable mission and food-distribution model, but operates at federal rather than local scale.

Regional players

• Die Tafeln (Frankfurter Tafel e.V.): Frankfurt-area food bank running similar regional food-rescue operations with multiple distribution points and corporate donor base. Directly comparable in scope and operations to Tafel Leipzig, serving another major German metropolitan region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Tafel Leipzig