Meal Vouchers & Food Coupons for Employees – Austria 2026
Meal vouchers (also known as food coupons) have simplified everyday professional life for many years. However, the world of work is changing today: remote work, flexible hours, and a growing interest in healthy nutrition bring new requirements. Consequently, employees desire solutions that are simple, practical, and flexible—solutions that can be integrated into the workday without difficulty while offering fresh, balanced meals.
As a Junior Marketing and Event Manager, she ensures that every lunch break at Schrankerl is a delightful experience. With fresh ideas, strong commitment, and organizational talent, she brings creativity and energy to the team—and, of course, to every plate! 💚
Why meal vouchers were so popular
Meal vouchers have been regarded as an uncomplicated benefit for many years: they are tax-free, flexible, and quickly implemented. It is also important to show appreciation to employees while offering them a straightforward way to enjoy meals at reduced prices.
In the past, this principle worked well, but today it often no longer fits into the modern office routine. The classic model is becoming increasingly impractical and outdated due to remote work, flexible working models, and increased health awareness.
How Meal Vouchers & Food Coupons Work – and Their Limits
In Austria, it is tax-free for employers to issue food coupons worth up to €8.00 per working day, provided they are used for the purchase of meals (the limit of €8.00 applies to restaurants, whereas only €2.00 per working day applies to supermarkets).
It is convenient for employees to use them at partner restaurants or in supermarkets—in theory, a good idea.
In practice, however, it quickly becomes clear:
- Acceptance points are limited.
- Plastic or paper cards are not very sustainable and are impractical.
- Companies have no way to monitor the food actually consumed.
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The Disadvantages of Classic Meal Vouchers
Food coupons or meal vouchers are not a solution for nutritional problems—they merely postpone them.
Employees often reach for what is quickly available: snacks, pastries, or ready-made meals.
The result: a lack of balanced nutrition, no sense of community within the team, and no real breaks.
Furthermore, there are additional factors:
- High administrative effort: Distribution, recording, and, if necessary, replacement of paper vouchers must take place.
- Lack of traceability: Companies are not clear about whether and how the vouchers are being used.
- Sustainability deficit: A large number of vouchers are printed, lost, or end up in the trash.
In summary: An idea that was clever back then seems outdated and inefficient today.
What employees really need today
The world of work has changed—and with it, the expectations placed on employers.
Healthy nutrition, simple processes, and sustainability are no longer “nice-to-haves,” but basic requirements for a modern work culture.
Employees desire:
- Fresh, balanced dishes directly in the office—without any complicated planning.
- Flexibility—no fixed times for meals, no dependence on restaurants.
- Sustainability—environmentally friendly packaging and regional ingredients.
- Community—exchange and motivation are promoted through shared lunch breaks.
Meal vouchers cannot offer all of this. They are a solution from yesterday—for a work environment that has long since ceased to exist.
👉🏼 Learn more about the importance of employee catering on our blog
Schrankerl as a Smart Alternative to Canteens and Meal Vouchers
This is where Schrankerl comes in—the modern solution for outdated meal vouchers and traditional canteen models.
The concept involves regional partner kitchens preparing fresh and balanced meals daily, delivering them in a climate-friendly manner, and providing them in smart refrigerators directly within the company.
Via the app, employees select their favorite dish very easily and pick it up directly from the refrigerator at any desired time—without pre-ordering, without waiting, and without effort.
All dishes are freshly prepared, balanced, and ideally tailored to the needs of everyday office life.
In this way, healthy nutrition at the workplace finally becomes simple—and for companies, a real alternative to canteens or meal voucher systems.
Corporate Benefits:
- No separate kitchen required, no staff, no organizational effort
- Fresh and varied daily meals for all employees
- Regional and sustainable—through short transport routes and reusable packaging
- Health-promoting—lovingly prepared, balanced recipes
- Motivating—the shared lunch break becomes a real team moment again
Learn more about Schrankerl
Benefits of Modern Corporate Catering at a Glance
| Aspect | Classic Meal Voucher | Schrankerl – Modern Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Advantages | ✔ | ✔ |
| Healthy Nutrition | Coincidence | Planned & Balanced |
| Sustainability | Limited | Regional & Resource-efficient |
| Flexibility | Restricted | Available Anytime |
| Administration | Laborious | Fully Digital |
| Team Culture | Missing | Shared Dining Moments |
Conclusion: Time for Modern Employee Catering
Meal vouchers have served their purpose well, but today they often reach their limits.
Modern companies nowadays think a bit further: they choose uncomplicated, healthy, and sustainable catering solutions directly at the workplace.
With the help of concepts like Schrankerl, an administrative measure is transformed into actual added value for employees—in a way that is contemporary, flexible, and suitable for everyday use.
FAQ: Meal Vouchers and Modern Employee Catering
Yes, in Austria, meal vouchers are tax-free up to a value of €8.00 per working day if they are used for meals in restaurants or dining establishments.
If they are used for grocery shopping at a supermarket, the tax-free limit is €2.00 per working day.
The terms “meal voucher” and “meal coupon” are mostly used synonymously and refer to the same tax-advantaged model—even the law does not clearly distinguish between the two terms. In common usage, “meal coupon” often refers to the classic individual paper token, while “meal voucher” is now used as a generic term that also includes digital and card-based solutions. For companies, the designation is not what matters; what is decisive is whether the tax limits (€8.00 for restaurants / €2.00 for supermarkets per working day) are observed.
Meal vouchers consist of monetary values, whereas Schrankerl provides real, freshly prepared meals.
Selected regional food partners prepare the dishes fresh every day and then deliver them directly to the company’s Schrankerl refrigerators.
This provides employees with varied and healthy meals directly at their workplace, without the need for shopping or planning.
Yes. Especially for SMEs without their own cafeteria, flexible concepts without fixed cost risks are attractive. Providers like Schrankerl provide the unit without a setup fee – the risk lies with the provider, not the company.
Schrankerl is a great alternative to a canteen because it requires no kitchen, no staff, and no renovations. Schrankerl operates digitally, saves space, and offers the same quality as a canteen – just smarter.
Modern employee catering promotes satisfaction, health, and motivation within the team. Those who eat well work with better focus, remain productive, and have fewer absences. At the same time, an appealing catering offering contributes to strengthening employee retention and employer branding.
Furthermore, digital and flexible solutions make the entire process virtually effortless—an advantage that is actually utilized and benefits everyone.
Yes! Companies can also utilize tax-advantaged meal budgets with Schrankerl to actively promote healthy eating.
As a Junior Marketing and Event Manager, she ensures that every lunch break at Schrankerl is a delightful experience. With fresh ideas, strong commitment, and organizational talent, she brings creativity and energy to the team—and, of course, to every plate! 💚
