The physical and digitally organised reusable container system can be used both in small-scale catering with single-portion to-go meals or in classic delivery, but also in professional catering to public institutions in multi-portion bulk containers.
Decisively established by Rieber as early as 1964 and since then produced exclusively in Germany and further developed with many unique selling points.
digital | traceable | deposit-free | simple | sustainable | robust | durable
Whether in the small container or in the large container, the returnable booking is made using the scan method, the container QR code is booked to the customer QR code.
Whether in small or large containers, returnable bookings are made using the scanning method, the container QR code is booked onto the customer QR code.
In bulk containers, the scanning process follows the same principle, only via professional mobile scanning units instead of an app, and can be individually integrated into the kitchen production process.
Behind the digital reusable organization is Rieber GmbH & Co. KG, a family-run, medium-sized company from Reutlingen. We are one of the leading suppliers of kitchen technology for the professional gastronomy. All our products are MADE IN GERMANY. Our goal is to offer our customers not only individual products, but individual solutions with standard and system and this always under the aspiration of sustainability. This guiding principle already starts with the production, continues through the operation and the use up to the recyclability of our products. People and food are at the center of our products & solutions, and our innovations always promote the responsible use of limited resources such as energy, water and time.
Here, as an innovation-driven company, we have been thinking about digitalization since 2012, which is why we are able to offer our customers digital added value to their physical product system. With CHECK HACCP for absolute food safety and quality, combined with our reliable infrastructure across the entire chain of cooking - from proper storage to the process of preparation, proper preparation in the kitchen to food transport and serving or serving on site. In addition, the Rieber CONNECT app sustainably organizes further digitalization solutions, such as the sharing refrigerator (multipolar® CONNECT), the mobile serving kitchen (K|POT® CONNECT) up to our digital reusable system.
Every year, 18.9 million tons of packaging waste are generated throughout Germany. In addition, around 11 million tons of food end up in the trash every year. 1.3 billion tons of food are lost along the value chain worldwide. A sad balance. Rieber wants to counteract this trend with its products.
With the digital reusable system, Rieber offers a system that can be used for private consumers in restaurants, bakeries, butcher shops and the retail trade, as well as in large containers for use by caterers or food deliveries in old people's homes or schools, etc. Through our versatile GN container system, the standard in the catering industry since 1964, we have the physical reusable standard in the market, which we can organize traceably and safely through the QR code. The stainless steel GN container has multiple advantages compared to other materials and shapes, which is why the GN stainless steel container has become widely accepted worldwide over the past 60 years, until today.
Away from disposable packaging to a sustainable, digitally organized reusable system with hygienic and absolutely food-safe stainless steel containers in the standardized industry standard the Gastronorm dimension. We want to enable regional reusable partnerships so that our diversity of food and gastronomic offerings is preserved. The standardized stainless steel containers are available in a wide variety of sizes and lids, depending on the type of food and number of meals, from small single-serving boxes to large catering containers. The filling volume ranges from 0.5l to 55l and a container can run through several thousand cycles. By means of the proven Rieber infrastructure, combined with the digital reusable organization and the legally required food safety with CHECK HACCP, all digitally organized via QR codes, a sustainable and resource-saving overall system is mapped, in small and large containers. The system offers a sustainable reusable solution for large kitchens and caterers, as well as for small restaurants and retailers. Here, the container QR code is booked according to the library lending principle in the small container to the QR code of the customer himself (customer card/digital in app) and in the large container, to that of the location to be supplied (delivery bill). This digitally documents which containers were taken by the customer or are located at which location, and thus the "reusable lending process" can take place without a deposit.
In our experience, pool solutions only make sense if all reusable partners use the same boxes/containers. Then the containers can also be returned to each partner. In this case, regional pool solutions can be created. In many businesses/restaurants, however, it makes sense for each reusable partner to have its own containers due to the different food/food offerings, as well as the different portion sizes (single portion/large container in communal catering). These containers can then be perfectly matched to the circumstances. Another great advantage of our system is that reusable partners who already have reusable boxes/GN containers can subsequently equip them with QR code stickers. This means that the partner does not necessarily have to buy new containers.
If the business does not have its own customer/employee cards, then it can obtain the eatTAINABLE cards and the customer ID QR codes from us. If the business already has a customer card, it can simply apply our eatTAINABLE customer QR code adhesive to it. In addition, "digital" customers also have the option of saving their own customer QR code in the wallet or app. In our open system, both the physical card in the wallet and the digital QR code from our eatTAINABLE APP or an existing ordering app are possible.
Exactly here lies a great advantage of our system and it is open to the operator whether he includes stainless steel containers, jars, ceramic, plastic bowls or other containers in the reusable system. The QR-Code glue which was developed by us is unique in its composition and especially designed for the application in the professional gastronomy. This means that it is suitable for the washing process in large commercial sinks and it is cold and heat resistant from -40 °C to +180 °C (for a short time also +300 °C). In addition, the QR code adhesive is food safe and may therefore be used in connection with food.
In principle, the system can be retrofitted at any time and in all kitchens/businesses. It all depends on the size of the business. For a small caterer, a smartphone with our CONNECT app and an Internet connection is sufficient to use our digital deposit system. For large caterers with several thousand meals a day, on the other hand, the use of hand-held scanners or scanner bridges in combination with roller belts has proven successful. This makes the system quick to implement for smaller operations, but at the same time can cover the complex processes of large caterers.
When the container is handed over, it is booked with its individual QR code to the customer, simply via the CONNECT app. The customer simply shows his customer QR code via the eatTAINABLE app or card. Immediately afterwards, the customer receives an automatic mail with the details of the transaction as a digital receipt.
The customer has a certain period of time to return the containers without incurring any costs. Only the container has to be returned and no customer ID is required. This is possible because each container has an individual QR code and is therefore booked to this customer in the system. If the loan period is exceeded, a reminder fee is initially charged, as in a library. If the container is not returned even after this period, it must unfortunately be charged. For the reusable system, the faster the containers are returned, the more efficient and resource-saving the process is.
For customers (end consumers), the system is in principle free of charge. For the restaurateur, costs may be incurred for the procurement of containers and QR codes. In addition, there are monthly costs for the use of the system. The system fees, container & QR code prices can be requested from our sales department.
