The organizers of the Universiade held in Germany's Rhine-Ruhr region are providing meals for over 9,200 participants and delegates, as well as more than 10,000 volunteers.
According to the correspondent of Idman.biz sent to Germany, a team of 15 specialists led by Marina Batish-Winter, the head manager for food and beverages, is responsible for all stages of catering.
She stated that they are prepared to serve approximately 200,000 portions of food during the tournament: “To make this possible, the organizing committee has engaged around 12 catering companies from different parts of the region. Each is responsible for a portion of the total volume, based on their capabilities and geographic location. We can think of the food service process as a pie – each catering center is responsible for its slice.”
Menus are prepared in accordance with the nutritional guidelines of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Every lunch menu – including for the Azerbaijani delegation – features at least one source of protein (typically chicken or fish) and vegetarian options.
A standardized menu plan across all venues – whether in central kitchens or on-site restaurants – ensures food quality and consistency. Gluten-free pasta is always available, and 14 internationally recognized allergens are clearly marked.
Batish-Winter explains: “Every food supplier receives the same requirements and must submit a daily allergen declaration listing all the ingredients used.”
Minimizing waste is crucial when catering on this scale. The planning team uses detailed forecasts to avoid overproduction: “We partnered with food-sharing companies that have proven effective in Germany. Some of them come daily to collect excess food. Others operate like emergency services, responding at very short notice.”
A creative approach is also applied to ingredient use. For example, overripe bananas are turned into smoothies or banana bread: “There are moments when you either prove you’re truly an expert or you’re just all talk. We’ve set ourselves a goal – to feed everyone. And we’re achieving it.”
Zaki Feyzullayev, Essen (Germany)
Idman.biz
