GREENs unlimited Berlin

What GREENs unlimited Berlin does

GREENs unlimited Berlin GmbH is a Berlin-based nonprofit school and kindergarten (Kita) catering company founded in 1995, wholly owned by Schildkröte GmbH and operating exclusively across Berlin-Brandenburg. The company provides daily hot Mittagessen (lunch) to Berlin primary and secondary schools as well as Kitas, with menus built around a predominantly plant-based (>60%) profile aligned with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) recommendations and Planetary Health Diet science. Approximately 93% of ingredients are organic-certified under the EU-Bio-Siegel (DE-ÖKO-070), with sourcing concentrated among regional Brandenburg producers including sister entities Bio4Friends gGmbH (organic pasture-raised beef) and Endorphina Backkunst GmbH (acquired late 2024, organic bakery), alongside external partners such as Bobalis, KIWERTa, and ReffiSchaf.

The service operates through a B2G/B2C hybrid model: framework contracts with the Land Berlin — administered via the Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie — fully fund meals for primary-school students (Klassen 1–6), while secondary-school students (Klassen 7+) receive free meals via the BerlinPass (BuT) subsidy or pay privately through the schulmenueplaner online ordering portal using SEPA direct debit. A distinctive differentiator is the company's three Lernorte educational sites — Lernort Hof & Acker (farm in Wietstock, Brandenburg), Lernort Großküche (commercial kitchen), and Lernort Mensa (cafeteria) — which integrate hands-on nutrition education into the catering contract, anchored by the 1 Hektar Zukunft initiative launched in 2022. The company also runs an Entdecker:innen-Menü exploratory menu program that introduces novel proteins (e.g., mushroom-based patties via MushRoots, buffalo via Bobalis, sheep via ReffiSchaf) with accompanying MensaTalk educational sessions.

Commercially, GREENs has ~77 FTE employees (2024 average, down from 85), operates as a gemeinnützig GmbH with GWÖ certification, and has been recognized with the Frankfurter Preis 2025 and Kantine Zukunft certification (December 2024). Distribution is direct to institutional clients only, with no retail or consumer e-commerce channel beyond the schulmenueplaner portal. The leadership team comprises Co-CEOs Alexandra Renner-Roman and Susan Rhattigan, both Geschäftsführerinnen of the operating GmbH.

Name

GREENs unlimited Berlin

Legal name

GREENs unlimited Berlin GmbH

Website

https://greens-unlimited.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GREENs unlimited Berlin GmbH is a Berlin-based nonprofit school and Kita caterer serving Berlin-Brandenburg with DGE-aligned, predominantly plant-based, >90% organic meals, funded by the Land Berlin Senate and delivered alongside three Lernorte nutrition-education sites and an online ordering portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School and Kita Catering Services

NAICS

Food Service Contractors (72231), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition, Dietary Management & Allergen/Accommodation Services (EDALADAJ), Foods for Special Dietary Needs Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Allergen-Free, Low-FODMAP, Low-Sodium) (AFAKAJAD)

Keywords

• School catering services
• Organic school meals
• Plant-based nutrition
• Nutrition education programs
• Childcare meal provision

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School & Kita Catering Contracts: Revenue is generated through catering contracts with Berlin schools and Kitas. The company is predominantly financed through the Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie (Berlin Senate Department for Education). Primary school meals (grades 1–6) are fully funded by the Land Berlin; secondary students are covered via BerlinPass subsidies or private payment via SEPA direct debit.
2. Meal Sales (Private Customers): For secondary school students (grades 7+) without BerlinPass, meals are charged per order. Orders are placed through the online portal; prices are visible during the ordering process. SEPA direct debit is the only accepted payment method for private customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GREENs unlimited Berlin GmbH provides daily hot lunch catering (Mittagessen) to primary schools, secondary schools, and Kitas in Berlin-Brandenburg, using predominantly plant-based, EU-organic ingredients aligned with DGE and Planetary Health Diet standards. The offering integrates nutrition education through three hands-on learning locations (Lernort Hof & Acker, Lernort Großküche, Lernort Mensa). Meals are ordered via an online portal and delivered to schools where students collect them via chip cards.

Product overview

GREENs unlimited Berlin GmbH operates a comprehensive school and kindergarten catering service in Berlin-Brandenburg, built around a core Mittagessen (meal catering) offering supplemented by multiple educational and operational products. The primary platform is the Schulmenüplaner online ordering portal for meal registration and management. Core offerings include daily balanced, predominantly plant-based (over 60%) meals following DGE and Planetary Health Diet guidelines, complemented by Ernährungsberatung nutritional consulting. The company runs three Lernort (learning location) sub-brands — Lernort Hof & Acker (farm), Lernort Großküche (commercial kitchen), and Lernort Mensa (cafeteria) — for hands-on nutrition education. Additional products include the Entdecker:innen-Menü exploratory menu program, Lunchpakete pre-packed meals, and the 1 Hektar Zukunft educational initiative in Brandenburg. As of late 2024, artisan bakery Endorphina Backkunst joined the portfolio, expanding baked goods supply to schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1 Hektar Zukunft: Educational initiative for climate-friendly nutrition, offering learning locations including farm, kitchen, and cafeteria experiences for children and youth in Berlin and Brandenburg.

Products and services

• Mittagessen (School and Kita Catering) Full-meal catering service for primary schools, secondary schools, and Kitas in Berlin-Brandenburg, providing daily balanced, predominantly plant-based lunches (over 60% plant-based) prepared with bio-regional ingredients following DGE and Planetary Health Diet guidelines.
• Schulmenüplaner (Online Ordering Portal)

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% organic ingredient share
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schildkröte GmbHcoreOthersSchildkröte GmbH is the 100% shareholder of GREENs unlimited Berlin GmbH. It is the parent company of a broader network including GREENs unlimited Berlin GmbH, Hand.Fest gGmbH (100%), Bio4Friends gGmbH (100%), and Endorphina Backkunst GmbH (100%).
• Hand.Fest gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHand.Fest gGmbH is a 100% subsidiary of Schildkröte GmbH (alongside GREENs unlimited). Both companies collaborate as part of the broader social-educational network focused on conscious, fair, and inclusive communal catering in Berlin.
• Kantine ZukunftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKantine Zukunft is a Berlin-based initiative working to transform communal catering toward more sustainability. Together with GREENs, they developed four new recipes (including BBQ tomato chicken and vegetarian bolognese with sunflower mince) and contributed to achieving 93% organic share and over 60% plant-based menus.
• Bio4Friends gGmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationBio4Friends is a nonprofit subsidiary of Schildkröte GmbH, operating a 1 Hektar Zukunft farm in Wietstock, Brandenburg. They supply GREENs with 100% organic pasture-raised beef from cows slaughtered on-site (Weideschuss method), with nose-to-tail utilization. Supply relationship since 2023.
• Endorphina Backkunst GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationEndorphina Backkunst is a Berlin-Neukölln artisan bakery (Slow Baking, 100% organic) that joined the GREENs/Schildkröte/Hand.Fest group at end of 2024. They supply breads and baked goods (Brotsonne, Rosinenbrötchen, Obststreuselkuchen) to GREENs' school menus.
• Stiftung Naturschutz BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStiftung Naturschutz Berlin cooperates with GREENs' educational initiative 1 Hektar Zukunft to offer a Freiwilliges Ökologisches Jahr (FÖJ) program for young people, starting June 2024.
• Verband der deutschen Schul- und Kitacaterer e.V.minorOthersGREENs is a member of the German Association of School and Kita Caterers, engaging in professional policy development and standards-setting for communal catering in Germany.
• RegionalbewegungminorOthersGREENs is a member of the Regionalbewegung (Regional Movement), a network promoting transparency, responsibility, and genuine cooperation along the entire value chain for regional food systems.
• Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V. (BNW)minorOthersGREENs is a member of BNW e.V., connecting with other sustainable businesses in a strong network to share knowledge, make values visible, and actively shape community-oriented transformation.
• 1 Hektar Zukunft gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner1 Hektar Zukunft is GREENs' educational and networking initiative launched in 2022, operating a learning farm (Lernort Hof & Acker) in Wietstock, Brandenburg. It coordinates nutrition education programs for children, FÖJ placements, and educational events connecting schools with regional farmers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dussmann Group: Major German facility services and contract catering group serving schools, hospitals, and corporate clients. A broad incumbent whose scale and diversification contrast with GREENs' specialization in plant-forward, organic school meals.
• Klüh Catering: German multi-sector contract caterer with institutional and corporate accounts including school and hospital foodservice. Comparable customer segments but a much wider service portfolio than GREENs.
• Sodexo Germany: Global contract food services and facilities management player with substantial German school, university, and corporate accounts. Competes for the same institutional tenders as GREENs and is increasingly investing in sustainability-differentiated offerings.
• Apetito: Large German frozen-meal and catering manufacturer supplying schools, hospitals, and care homes. Operates at significantly greater scale than GREENs and competes on cost leadership, with growing exposure to organic and dietary-specific meal lines.
• Aramark Germany: Global contract foodservice provider with German operations serving educational, healthcare, and corporate clients. Competes in the same institutional procurement pool as GREENs with a significantly broader product portfolio.
• Compass Group Germany: International contract foodservice group operating in Germany via school, business, and healthcare brands. A broad incumbent capable of entering organic plant-forward segments at scale, posing a long-term threat to niche leaders like GREENs.

Direct peers

• Menüpartner: German school and Kita catering specialist competing directly with GREENs for institutional meal contracts in multiple federal states. Comparable business model, customer base (schools and daycares), and reliance on public procurement frameworks.
• Hofmann Menü: Established German fresh-meal provider serving schools, kindergartens, and care facilities with deep-frozen delivery. Operates the same institutional meal-procurement motion as GREENs and competes in the same public tender processes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/greens.unlimited
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greens-unlimited-berlin

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 GREENs unlimited Berlin