TEIKEI Network › Business Association · 2 min read
Kitchens that cook for many have a regular and predictable demand. This is exactly what farms need to operate reliably. Communal kitchens and canteens are therefore part of the TEIKEI Network. They belong to the Business Association sector.
This page describes who is included, the role these kitchens play in the network, and how they can source supplies.
How to read the image: On the left, you see who is included: canteens, large kitchens, communal kitchens, kitchens in social institutions, in schools and daycare centers, as well as kitchen associations with bundled purchasing. In the center, you see what they bring to the network: a predictable demand with regular or bundled quantities and clear delivery windows – and thus reliable offtake for farms, processing, and logistics. On the right, you see the three ways kitchens can source supplies, and the note on primary suppliers for large buyers. At the bottom, you see what is needed for this in the kitchen. Each field with ↗ opens the corresponding page in a new window.
Predictable demand. For kitchens and canteens, the focus is not on individual orders but on regular or bundled sourcing with predictable quantities and clear delivery windows.
Reliability for farms. Each institution generates continuous demand for food. When these needs are bundled and planned long-term, reliable sales opportunities arise for agricultural businesses, processing companies, and logistics. This is described in the glossary entry Public Procurement.
Processing. Kitchens further process food. The Charter for Processing Businesses explicitly mentions them. Origin and processing should remain traceable on the plate.
Depending on size, three pathways are available:
| Pathway | For whom |
|---|---|
| Sourcing via an existing community | Smaller kitchens and institutions with occasional demand |
| Direct group order | Kitchens that regularly need larger quantities |
| Bulk or pallet order | Large kitchens and central catering facilities with their own storage |
Details can be found on the page Sourcing Models for Kitchens and Canteens. Large buyers such as large kitchens and school cafeterias are also supplied via Primary Suppliers.
↑ One level up: Business Association
By Felix Schröder, with support from AI (Claude)
Created on October 10, 2026 · Last updated on October 15, 2026
Questions or feedback? support@teikei.us