Die Tafel Österreich

What Die Tafel Österreich does

Die Tafel Österreich is an Austrian non-profit association (Verein) founded in 1999 as Wiener Tafel and rebranded to its current name in 2024, operating as the country's oldest and only nationwide food bank following the international Tafel model. The organisation rescues edible surplus food—1,522 tonnes in 2025, up from approximately 1,037 tonnes in 2023—and redistributes it free of charge to approximately 170 cooperating social institutions (mother-and-child homes, homeless shelters, women's refuges, emergency accommodation, asylum centres, and social advice centres) across all nine Austrian federal states, reaching more than 85,000 people affected by poverty. The redistribution is enabled by a HUB warehouse-and-distribution-centre network covering every Bundesland and a digital matching platform, the Tafel-Drehscheibe, launched in early 2025, which connects 260 food donors with recipient charities and tracks goods flows.

The business model is donation-funded and non-commercial: zero fees are charged anywhere in the chain, and food is VAT-exempt under the August 2024 charitable donation exemption. Revenue streams comprise private online donations (tax-deductible under the Spendengütesiegel), corporate cash and in-kind sponsorships (Amazon, Ottakringer, Geier, Billa, Metro, Sodexo), in-kind food donations from retailers, wholesalers, producers, farmers, and caterers, and—starting 1 August 2026—government funding via the FASI programme (€30 million total fund available through 2028). Workforce is overwhelmingly volunteer-based (342 ehrenamtliche Mitarbeiter:innen contributing 19,959 hours in 2025), with operations anchored at the Vienna Grossmarkt headquarters. Beyond core food rescue, the organisation runs awareness programmes (GewissensBISS travelling exhibition with BOKU University, Sensorik Labor for children, Allianz gegen Lebensmittelverschwendung und Armut multi-stakeholder coalition), award programmes (Martin-Haiderer-Preis), and partnership products (Geier-Tafelsackerl, TafelBox). It is also an FEBA member and policy advocate, partnering with Harvard Law School on the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas.

Name

Die Tafel Österreich

Legal name

Die Tafel Österreich – der Verein für sozialen Transfer

Website

https://tafel-oesterreich.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Die Tafel Österreich is Austria's oldest and only nationwide food bank (founded 1999), rescuing edible surplus food and redistributing it free of charge through ~170 social institutions to 85,000+ people affected by poverty across all nine federal states, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Food Bank / Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food rescue services
• Food bank operations
• Food redistribution logistics
• Anti-poverty programs
• Charity donation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private monetary donations: Individual donors contribute money through the organization's website (online donation form) and various themed donation campaigns. As a registered non-profit with the Austrian donation seal of quality (Spendengütesiegel), donations are tax-deductible. One euro of donation enables approximately five meals for people affected by poverty.
2. Corporate donations and sponsorships: Companies support the organization through monetary contributions, product donations (food and hygiene articles), and time donations (volunteering). Corporate partners include Geier (baker), Ottakringer Brauerei, Billa, Metro Österreich, Sodexo, and Amazon. Sponsorship packages are tailored to corporate partners.
3. Government funding – FASI Armutsfonds: Starting 1 August 2026, Die Tafel Österreich became the first selected non-profit organization to receive funding from the new 'Fonds zur Armutsbekämpfung und Sozialen Innovation' (FASI) established by the Federal Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Consumer Protection and Digitalisation (BMASGPK). The two-year project supports healthy food distribution for people affected by poverty via social institutions. The fund has a total budget of €30 million available through 2028.
4. Food donations (in-kind): The organization receives donations of edible surplus food from retailers, wholesalers, food producers, farmers, and catering companies. Since August 2024, food donations to registered charitable organizations are VAT-exempt in Austria. These in-kind donations form the core supply of the redistribution model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Die Tafel Österreich is Austria's oldest and only nationwide food bank, founded in 1999 (originally as Wiener Tafel). It rescues edible surplus food from ~260 food donors — retailers, wholesalers, food producers, farmers and caterers — and redistributes it free of charge through ~170 cooperating social institutions (mother-and-child homes, homeless shelters, women's refuges, emergency accommodation, asylum centres) to more than 85,000 people affected by poverty in all nine Austrian states. Operations are anchored by a nationwide HUB (warehouse and distribution centre) network and the digital Tafel-Drehscheibe platform for matching donors with recipient organizations and tracking all goods flows.

Product overview

Die Tafel Österreich operates as a non-profit food bank following the international food bank model, providing a comprehensive ecosystem of food rescue and poverty relief services across Austria. The core offering centers on rescuing edible food from waste and distributing it free of charge to people affected by poverty through approximately 170 social institutions, reaching over 85,000 people annually. The organization has developed digital infrastructure (Tafel-Drehscheibe platform), awareness-building programs (GewissensBISS exhibition, Sensorik Labor), and value-added products (TafelBox, Lebensmittelretter:innen Box, Geier-Tafelsackerl partnership). The service model combines direct food distribution with social logistics operations and consciousness-raising initiatives to address both immediate nutritional needs and systemic food waste issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TafelBox: Sustainable takeaway box for events, with 20 cents per box donated to Die Tafel Österreich
• Lebensmittelretter:innen Box
• Tafel-Drehscheibe
• Fairteiler
• Martin-Haiderer-Preis
• GewissensBISS
• Sensorik Labor
• Suppe mit Sinn
• TafelSammeltag
• Lange Tafel
• Allianz gegen Lebensmittelverschwendung und Armut

Products and services

• Lebensmittelrettung (Food Rescue & Redistribution) Free collection of edible surplus food from ~260 food donors (retailers, wholesalers, producers, farmers, caterers) and redistribution to ~170 cooperating social institutions in all nine Austrian states, reaching 85,000+ people in 2025.
• Armutsbetroffene versorgen (Supplying People Affected by Poverty) Free supply of rescued food and hygiene products to people affected by poverty through partner social institutions (mother-and-child homes, homeless shelters, women's refuges, emergency accommodation, asylum centres).
• Tafel-Drehscheibe (Digital Platform) Digital platform that connects food donors and charitable recipient organizations across Austria and provides comprehensive tracking of all goods flows.
• TafelBox Sustainable takeaway box for events that turns guests into food rescuers, with 20 cents per box donated to Die Tafel Österreich.
• Lebensmittelretter:innen Box Awareness product that enables consumers to participate in food-rescue efforts.
• Geier-Tafelsackerl Partnership product with Geier bakery: €3.99 bag of surplus fresh bread and pastries, with €0.50 per bag donated to Die Tafel Österreich.
• Altes Brot mit Sinn Product initiative using bread that would otherwise be wasted, adding value through creative repurposing.
• Marmelade mit Sinn Jam product made from rescued or surplus ingredients, adding value while preventing food waste.
• Sirup mit Sinn Syrup product utilizing rescued or surplus ingredients to create value-added products.
• Sozialspedition (Social Logistics Service) Logistics service operating as a 'social logistics company' distributing rescued food across Austria, with delivery routes and volunteer drivers.
• Fairteiler (Low-Threshold Distribution Refrigerators) Distribution refrigerators where people affected by poverty can access rescued food in a low-threshold manner.
• GewissensBISS (Travelling Exhibition on Food Waste) Travelling exhibition on food waste, co-developed with BOKU University Vienna, reaching ~10,000 visitors in 2025 (primarily schoolchildren).
• Sensorik Labor Educational programme teaching children and young people how to use their senses to determine whether food is still good for consumption.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,522 tonnes of edible food rescued and redistributed in 2025, preventing ~3.5 million kg CO2 equivalent emissions (extrapolated from food waste impact)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Allianz gegen Lebensmittelverschwendung und Armut (Alliance against Food Waste and Poverty)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Die Tafel Österreich founded and convenes this multi-stakeholder alliance, which by May 2026 had attracted over 40 companies, associations, cities, and municipalities. The alliance takes a holistic approach, considering social, ecological, and economic perspectives on food waste prevention and redistribution. The first Allianz Summit was held on 19 May 2026 in Vienna with ~130 participants.
• Harvard Law School – Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) / The Global Foodbanking NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Die Tafel Österreich hosted the Austrian launch of the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas, a project led by Harvard Law School FLPC and The Global Foodbanking Network. The initiative analyses legal and policy conditions for food donation in Austria (the third European country after Ireland and Poland to be studied), with results expected mid-2026. The FEBA (European Food Bank Federation) is also involved.
• Ottakringer BrauereicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025'Ottakringer Pfandfinder' is a bottle and can collection initiative: a two-metre yellow donation heart collects empty deposit containers at the Ottakringer site and major events, with proceeds going to Die Tafel Österreich. In 2025, deposit containers worth €10,000 (equivalent to 50,000 meals) were collected. The partnership connects circular economy with social impact.
• Geier. Die BäckereicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Since 2005, Geier bakery has supported the organization with regular food donations, expertise, and event sponsorships. In 2025, the 'Geier-Tafelsackerl' was launched: a €3.99 bag of surplus fresh bread and pastries, with €0.50 per bag donated to Die Tafel Österreich. Over 12,000 bags sold in year one, enabling ~30,000 meals. The initiative won the Green Marketing Award 2026.
• Amazon (Amazon Local Goods)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Amazon Local Goods provides free transport services to Die Tafel Österreich, collecting food donations from retailers and delivering them to the organization's distribution centre. In 2025, Amazon completed 31 free transport routes, enabling distribution of ~91,000 meals. In 2026, 60 routes are planned. Amazon also shares logistics expertise and provides financial support for vehicle maintenance, representing a significant capacity expansion for the organization's 'social logistics' operations.
• Billa (Rewe Group)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBilla sponsors the Martin-Haiderer-Preis by providing €1,500 in gift vouchers for the first-place winner. Billa's sustainability expert Melanie Zitka served on the jury for the 2026 award.
• Metro ÖsterreichcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMetro Österreich sponsors the Martin-Haiderer-Preis by providing €1,000 in gift vouchers for the second-place winner. Metro's Director People & Culture Carina Nagl participated in the 2026 award jury.
• European Food Bank Federation (FEBA)coreOthersDie Tafel Österreich is a member of FEBA and is represented in it by its Managing Director Alexandra Gruber. FEBA connects European food banks and advocates for supportive policy frameworks at the EU level.
• Armutskonferenz (Austria)coreOthersDie Tafel Österreich is a member of the Austrian 'Armutskonferenz' (Anti-Poverty Network), a coalition of organizations advocating for policies to combat poverty and social exclusion in Austria.
• NPO Austria (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien)minorOthersDie Tafel Österreich is a member of NPO Austria, the Competence Centre for Non-Profit Organizations at WU Vienna, which supports academic research and knowledge exchange in the non-profit sector.
• United against Waste (Austria)minorOthersDie Tafel Österreich is a member of United against Waste, an Austrian initiative dedicated to reducing food waste across the value chain.
• Ökosoziales Forum Österreich & EuropaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDie Tafel Österreich partnered with the Ökosoziales Forum on the project 'Isst das jemand? Gemeinsam gegen Lebensmittelverschwendung', which combined awareness activities and direct dialogue with the public. The initiative reached over 100,000 people.
• BOKU University ViennaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the 'GewissensBISS' travelling exhibition on food waste with BOKU University Vienna. The exhibition was expanded to a second unit in 2025 and reached ~10,000 visitors (primarily schoolchildren) in that year alone.
• UN World Food Programme (WFP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartin Frick from the UN WFP delivered a keynote at the first Allianz Summit (May 2026), providing global perspective on food systems and the growing food poverty crisis affecting more than 670 million people worldwide.
• Caritas der Erzdiözese WiencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCaritas is both a beneficiary (receiving food donations from Die Tafel Österreich) and a partner in the Amazon Local Goods logistics programme, where Amazon supports Caritas with 99+ free transport routes per year to distribute ~150,000 aid items.
• SodexominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSodexo provided catering at the Lange Tafel 2026 event, preparing Egyptian bean stew and Buchteln (Austrian sweet buns) for hundreds of guests. Sodexo is one of the sponsors supporting the annual street festival.
• Wien Energie Business RunminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Wien Energie Business Run connects companies with charitable causes; the event serves as a platform for corporate social responsibility and was a key venue for the Ottakringer Pfandfinder bottle collection initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires: French food bank federation operating 79 regional food banks under the FEBA umbrella. Comparable in mission, scale (~6,800 partner charities), regulatory framework, and digital platform investments for surplus redistribution.
• Restos du Cœur: Major French food aid charity distributing free meals and food to people in poverty. Comparable in mission, beneficiary scale (millions served annually), volunteer-driven model, and reliance on food donations plus government co-financing.
• FareShare: UK food redistribution charity rescuing surplus food for charities. Comparable in operating model (surplus rescue → redistribution to partner charities), charity-only beneficiaries, and digital infrastructure for matching supply and demand.
• Tafel Deutschland: Germany's largest food bank federation operating the international Tafel model with ~960 local Tafeln. Direct peer because it follows the same food-rescue-and-redistribution model to poverty-affected populations via partner charities, with comparable scale (~1.5M people served) and corporate-donor network structure.
• Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel: Umbrella association of 960+ German Tafeln and Die Tafel Österreich's closest structural analog within the FEBA network. Highly comparable in mission, volunteer-driven operating model, and reliance on supermarket surplus donations.

Broad incumbents

• Too Good To Go: Commercial surplus-meal marketplace active across Europe including Austria. Thematically comparable in food-waste reduction mission but differs fundamentally in operating as a B2C paid marketplace rather than a free charity redistribution network.
• Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz: Austrian Red Cross—runs Chancenhaus Hermes (a Die Tafel Österreich award partner) and provides similar emergency social services. Comparable in serving vulnerable populations and operating as a charity network, but with a much broader humanitarian mandate.
• Caritas Österreich: Austria's largest social welfare organization and a Die Tafel Österreich beneficiary partner via Caritas Wien. Comparable because it serves the same poverty-affected population through social institutions, but operates broadly across housing, refugee aid, and social services rather than specializing in food rescue.

Emerging players

• OLIO: UK-based food-sharing app connecting households and businesses to share surplus food. Comparable digital-first approach to food waste reduction, though operates at consumer scale rather than through charity partners.
• Foodsharing Deutschland: German nonprofit operating a digital platform for direct peer-to-peer food surplus sharing. Comparable in tech-enabled food rescue mission, though it bypasses the institutional redistribution layer that Die Tafel Österreich's social-institution model requires.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@die-tafel-oesterreich
• Facebookfacebook.com/100064974420523
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tafel-oesterreich
• Instagraminstagram.com/die_tafel_oesterreich

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Die Tafel Österreich