v²onnem – Vegan in Monnem
A vegan butcher shop? What may sound contradictory at first glance turns out to be a major step toward a more sustainable campus. Under the name v²onnem, Mannheim’s Studierendenwerk has begun producing its own line of vegan foods.
Currywurst, cevapcici, or maybe a burger? Anyone who wants to avoid animal products without giving up familiar classics should take a look at the menus in the Mensa and at the EO. A small white-and-green v² marks the new vegan product line of the Mannheim Studierendenwerk. Under the label v²onnem – vegan campus food, it offers sustainable alternatives to meat products, all produced in its own in-house vegan “butcher shop.”
The current portfolio of the facility, located in the kitchen area of the Mensa at the Schloss and equipped much like a traditional butcher’s shop, includes six products: vegan bratwurst, meatballs, merguez, cevapcici, burger patties, and versatile vegan balls. “We use these to create a range of dishes — for example the vegan currywurst that’s served every evening at the EO,” explains Ulrich Opatz, Head of University Catering at the Studierendenwerk.
All products are based on pea protein. “When it comes to ingredients, we follow the reference values of the German Nutrition Society,” says Astrid Brandenburger, Head of Communications and Student Services. “We also place great importance on sustainability and regional sourcing. That’s why we keep delivery routes short — to minimize our carbon footprint and ensure that our products are not only high-quality but also environmentally responsible.”
Taste-testing together
The idea was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Studierendenwerk had to shorten opening hours and scale back its offerings. “With the extra time this created, we started thinking about which products we could make ourselves in university catering, so we would be more independent in case of supply disruptions,” Opatz recalls. Working together with the Studierendenwerk’s communications team and the agency RAUMSIEBEN, the catering department developed the v²onnem concept, which was officially registered as a brand in 2025. “That makes us the first Studierendenwerk in Germany with its own vegan butcher shop and product line,” Brandenburger says with pride.
New product ideas always come from within the team. “We test them again and again until we’re really satisfied with the flavor, seasoning, and texture,” says Opatz. It often takes ten or more test batches to get there, he explains. At the moment, two employees work in the production unit of the vegan butcher shop.
“Of course we’d like to expand the range even further in the future,” Opatz adds. The plan is also to offer v²onnem products more frequently across the eleven Mensas and cafeterias run by the Mannheim Studierendenwerk — for now, one self-produced vegan item is featured each week. And how are guests responding? “We’re thrilled with the positive feedback on social media and the many personal comments we receive,” Brandenburger says. “It shows that v²onnem really hits the taste of our guests.”
Text: Jessica Scholich / April 2026
