METRO continues successful social initiative ‘Housing First meets Gastronomy’
19 September 2025Download
Lars Klapdohr, Dennis Nikolay, Alena Hansen, Christopher Rogge, and Ivonne Bollow with the project participants
The initiative aims to open up new career prospects for formerly homeless people through practical gastronomy training, thereby facilitating their path to a self-determined life.
Housing First e. V. Düsseldorf is a city-funded association and part of a European initiative that pursues a promising approach to ending homelessness. Through cooperation between business, science, social work and private engagement, it places homeless people in permanent housing and supports them with flexible, housing-related assistance to help them keep their homes in the long term. The next logical step on the path to social reintegration is inclusion in the labour market, so that those affected can secure their own livelihood sustainably.
This is precisely where METRO AG's and Housing First Düsseldorf's ‘Housing first Meets Gastro’ come in, a project that is now in its second year of placing formerly homeless people in the gastronomy sector. For them, a regular daily routine with a job provides stability and structure, and the new experiences boost their self-confidence. The response from participants has been correspondingly positive. "People need not only a roof over their heads but also prospects for the future. The cooperation with METRO proves how business and social work can create sustainable solutions together. Participants are given the chance to start a new, structured and independent life," explains Dennis Nikolay, project manager at Housing First Düsseldorf e.V.
This year, five people once again took part in a four-week training course, which was held both in METRO's test kitchen and in the canteen on the METRO campus. Under the guidance of experienced kitchen professionals, they learned the basics of gastronomy, from hygiene and food preparation to teamwork. They are now ready to be deployed in restaurants for a two-month trial period. METRO is using its connections in the hospitality industry to arrange the subsequent internships, thus enabling them to enter the world of work.
For METRO, the project is much more than a social initiative; it represents an entrepreneurial attitude that focuses on equal opportunities and social responsibility. ‘We believe in the power of opportunity and that every person has the potential to develop in new ways if they receive the right support and encouragement,’ emphasises Ivonne Bollow, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Public Policy & Responsibility. "That's why we are happy to provide the resources, time and expertise to help the participants. At the same time, we are doing something for the hospitality industry, which is suffering from a shortage of skilled workers and labour." The success confirms this approach: after the first run in 2024, five participants found employment in gastronomic establishments, including the Klapdohr Delikatessen restaurant in Düsseldorf and the METRO canteen. Lars Klapdohr is a self-employed restaurateur and explains his reasons for supporting the project: "The gastronomy is a great industry; above all, it is open and diverse and certainly has more understanding for people from different backgrounds. We really struck gold with our colleague Heiko, who came to us through the project. He has integrated very well with us and we are delighted to be able to accompany him on this new stage of his life."
Dennis Nicolay, Lars Klapdohr and participant Heiko
Christopher Rogge manages the canteen on the METRO campus, which serves hundreds of employees every day. He is impressed by the group's motivation and willingness to learn: ‘Team spirit is what counts in the kitchen, and that's exactly what the five participants in the second round have brought with them. It's also very motivating for us to see them enjoying their work and showing such commitment.’ A particularly impressive example is Ralf Hesselfeld, who has been working in the METRO canteen since 2024. After years on the streets, the project has not only given him a permanent job, but also new self-confidence. ‘I never thought I'd be part of a team again. At METRO, I was not only accepted but needed. It has changed my life for the better and I look forward to my work every day,’ he says.
Ralf Hesselfeld, Ivonne Bollow and Christopher Rogge from METRO
METRO is a leading international food wholesaler which specialises in serving the needs of hotels, restaurants, and caterers (HoReCa) as well as independent resellers (Traders). Around the world, METRO has approx. 15 million customers who benefit from the wholesale company’s unique multichannel mix: customers can purchase their goods in one of the large stores in their area as well as by delivery (Food Service Distribution, FSD) – all digitally supported and connected. In parallel, METRO MARKETS is being developed as an international online marketplace for the needs of professional customers which has been growing and expanding continuously since 2019. Acting sustainably is one of the company principles of METRO which has been listed in various sustainability indices and rankings, including MSCI, Sustainalytics and CDP. METRO operates in more than 30 countries and employs over 85,000 people worldwide. In financial year 2023/24, METRO generated sales of €31 billion. More information can be found at MPULSE.de, our online magazine.
