Three Times Five Stars: Vector Canteens Are Among Germany’s Best Company Restaurants
Excellent software is created by clever minds, modern technological framework conditions and collaboration in which ideas are openly shared and further developed. But it is also created in a working environment where people enjoy coming together, exchanging ideas and recharging their batteries. At Vector, this includes a place that many employees make a point of visiting every day: the CANtine - the name of the award-winning company restaurants at the Vector sites in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Regensburg.
In the 2026 Food & Health canteen test, all three Vector canteens in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Regensburg were included in the list of the 50 best company restaurants in Germany. All locations received the highest rating of five stars. This puts them in a small top group: only 14 of the 50 award-winning company restaurants achieved the maximum rating in the current competition. For Vector, this is more than just an award for very good food. CANtine demonstrates every day what makes a good working environment: Quality, fair conditions, time for exchange and a togetherness that doesn't end at the office door.
A Working Day With Good Taste
People who work at Vector develop sophisticated software solutions for the mobility and technologies of tomorrow. This requires concentration, teamwork and freedom. A good break is therefore an integral part of the working day. Colleagues from all departments meet in the canteen. This is where conversations, new contacts and sometimes ideas are made that later flow back into code, concepts or customer solutions. The company canteen is therefore not just a place to eat, but also a place to meet. The fact that this concept has now won awards at all three locations confirms the high standards with which Vector and "CANtine - Made by Traube Tonbach" approach the topic of company catering.
Freshly Cooked Instead of a Standard Program
The culinary concept of the canteens is based on seasonal food, regional suppliers and solid culinary craftsmanship. Instead of convenience and ready-made products, there are freshly prepared dishes with high-quality ingredients. The menus include varied dishes, regular theme weeks with typical regional cuisine and culinary highlights. In addition to creative vegetarian alternatives, there is a vegan main course every day. The offer is complemented by gourmet and information formats. During supplier weeks, guests get to know the origin of the products directly on site. Cooking courses and accompanying activities make it possible to experience high-quality ingredients, preparation and a balanced diet. This level is made possible by experienced professionals in the kitchen and patisserie, in-house training and a well-established network of regional suppliers.
Special thanks go to the teams at "CANtine - Made by Traube Tonbach", who work with skill, care and passion every day at all locations to ensure that a break becomes a real piece of work culture.
Restaurant Quality at Fair Prices
A high-quality company restaurant incurs higher costs than classic standard catering. Nevertheless, the prices remain very fair for employees because Vector generously subsidizes the offer. No dish costs more than 4.80 euros. Homemade pasta or pizza, for example, is available from 2.50 euros, while a dry-aged steak or sole fillet costs 4.80 euros. Drinks are free-of-charge for employees - from water and soft drinks to cappuccinos in one of the 95 coffee kitchens. This turns a high-quality catering offer into a benefit that really makes an impact in everyday life.
Health and Responsibility Taken Into Account
In addition to taste and quality, the canteen test also focused on key topics for the future of communal catering: transparency in product origin, seasonal and regional ingredients, measures to reduce food waste and packaging waste as well as a holistic health concept. Balanced menus, plant-based offerings and a fair pricing policy were also included in the assessment. These topics are firmly anchored in the company restaurant's daily routine. Needs-based portion sizes, flexible menu planning and creative processing help to make the best possible use of food. In addition, there are reusable systems, a growing regional supplier network and innovative concepts that consistently promote health, sustainability and responsible behavior.
Excellent Work Culture, Excellent Food Culture
In the Great Place to Work competition "Germany's Best Employers 2025", Vector took first place in the 2,001 to 5,000 employees category. The award for the company catering complements this picture: Vector is not only about exciting tasks, modern technologies and strong teams, but also about the framework conditions that make good work possible. In other words, people who work at Vector should not only be able to develop professionally. The daily environment should also be right - from the workplace to the lunch break.
From Breakfast to CANtine@home
The canteen accompanies many Vectorians throughout the working day. From 7:30 a.m., breakfast is served with classic dishes, live cooking stations, organic muesli that you can put together yourself, free-of-charge ginger water, freshly squeezed fruit juices and smoothies, homemade jams and vegan and vegetarian breakfast snacks. In the afternoon, the Barista Bar offers coffee specialties, snacks and sweets from the patisserie - from cakes and tarts to pralines. CANtine@home is also available for at home or for working from home: sauces, soups and dishes such as vegan chili sin carne or veal cream goulash cooked in jars can easily be taken away and enjoyed later.
Why the Vector Canteen Is Called CANtine
The special spelling of CANtine is no coincidence. It refers to some of Vector's best-known products: CANalyzer, CANoe and CANape. The name alludes to the CAN bus, which plays an important role in the networking of embedded systems. So even the name of the canteen contains a piece of Vector technology history. If you want to see what's on the plate at CANtine every day, you can find regular updates on the CANtine Instagram profile.
Background to the Food & Health Cantine Test
The Food & Health canteen test evaluates leading company restaurants in Germany and highlights companies with outstanding concepts. In particular, the areas of responsibility, health and enjoyment are evaluated. In 2026, the focus was also on "Employee recruitment for and through company catering". The assessment takes place in several stages - from the analysis of menus and interviews to personal visits with tasting meals by a panel of experts.
The evaluation system was also new in 2026: for the first time, no individual top places were drawn by lot. Instead, the focus is on the top 50 in the industry; within this group, a star rating makes special excellence visible.The award ceremony for the top 50 took place on April 15, 2026 as part of the 3rd Food & Health Convention at the Bildungscampus in Heilbronn. Founded in 2017, the Food & Health e. V. platform sees itself as a think tank, initiator and companion for improving food quality. It connects conscious enjoyment, health and responsibility with a special focus on community gastronomy.