Die Tafel Österreich
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersVienna, Austria
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Die Tafel Österreich firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Die Tafel Österreich industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Die Tafel Österreich is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vienna
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Die Tafel Österreich business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free redistribution to social institutions — no charge for beneficiaries or partner charities |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels10 records
Die Tafel Österreich product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Die Tafel Österreich
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Die Tafel Österreich technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Die Tafel Österreich partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Allianz gegen Lebensmittelverschwendung und Armut (Alliance against Food Waste and Poverty)coreDie 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 NetworkcoreDie 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 Brauereicore'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 BäckereicoreSince 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)coreAmazon 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)coreBilla 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 ÖsterreichcoreMetro 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)coreDie 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)coreDie 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)minorDie 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)minorDie Tafel Österreich is a member of United against Waste, an Austrian initiative dedicated to reducing food waste across the value chain.
- Ökosoziales Forum Österreich & EuropaminorDie 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 ViennaminorCo-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)minorMartin 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 WiencoreCaritas 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.
- SodexominorSodexo 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 RunminorThe 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
Die Tafel Österreich competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Die Tafel Österreich social profiles
Digital presenceDie Tafel Österreich compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Die Tafel Österreich financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Die Tafel Österreich leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Die Tafel Österreich funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Die Tafel Österreich 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 Die Tafel Österreich
What does Die Tafel Österreich do?
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.
Is Die Tafel Österreich a public or private company?
Die Tafel Österreich is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Die Tafel Österreich founded?
Die Tafel Österreich was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Die Tafel Österreich based?
Die Tafel Österreich is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does Die Tafel Österreich make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Private monetary donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate donations and sponsorships, government funding – FASI Armutsfonds and food donations (in-kind).
Who are Die Tafel Österreich's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires, Restos du Cœur, FareShare, Tafel Deutschland and Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel. Broad incumbents are Too Good To Go, Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz and Caritas Österreich. Emerging players are OLIO and Foodsharing Deutschland.
Does Die Tafel Österreich have an API?
No public API is recorded for Die Tafel Österreich.
What industry is Die Tafel Österreich in?
Die Tafel Österreich's product category is Charitable Food Bank / Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAA, Food Assistance & Food Banks, with a secondary code of BPADAJAA, Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers). Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 8300.