Last updated: 2026-06-10
LAPA supplies Swiss contract catering — staff restaurants, school canteens, hospitals and care homes — with professional Italian formats: peeled tomatoes in 6×2.5 kg cans, 10 kg tomato pulp, Gragnano IGP pasta that withstands cook-and-hold, grated Parmigiano Reggiano DOP in 1 kg bags. DOP/IGP traceability and scheduled refrigerated delivery across Switzerland.
Which Italian products are suitable for large-scale kitchens?
The key is the format. Italian peeled tomatoes from Strianese come in cartons of 6 cans of 2.5 kg each: one carton covers roughly 60 litres of finished sauce without opening dozens of small tins. For even higher volumes, Rodolfi 1896 tomato pulp comes in a 10 kg bag-in-box that takes up less space, produces less waste and pours directly into the kettle.
For pasta, the decisive factor in collective catering is resistance to cook-and-hold: bronze-drawn Gragnano IGP pasta such as Di Martino spaghetti (1.7 mm, 500 g packs) keeps its texture even when pre-cooked, chilled and regenerated. Add grated Parmigiano Reggiano DOP in 1 kg bags (cartons of 10), 100% Italian extra virgin olive oil in 5-litre cans (cartons of 4) and IQF frozen vegetables such as fine peas in 2.5 kg bags.
How does quality stay affordable at large volumes?
Three levers keep the cost per plate under control. First, large formats lower the price per kilo: a 10 kg bag-in-box of tomato pulp costs less per kilo than the same product in small retail tins, with less packaging to dispose of. Second, controlled portions: a 1 kg bag of grated cheese is dosed at the pass, with no leftover wedges drying out in the cold room. Third, IQF freezing: every pea is frozen individually, so the kitchen takes exactly the quantity needed for the day's service and the rest stays at -18 °C. Zero food waste is not a slogan here — it is a line on the budget.
Which solution fits which need?
| Need in collective catering | Solution | Example product |
|---|---|---|
| Sauce for hundreds of meals | Large formats, constant yield | Tomato pulp 10 kg bag-in-box — Rodolfi 1896 |
| Pasta in cook-and-hold service | Bronze-drawn Gragnano IGP holds its texture | Spaghetti 1.7 mm Gragnano IGP — Di Martino |
| Portion control at the pass | 1 kg bags of grated DOP cheese | Grated Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 1 kg |
| Vegetables all year, no waste | IQF frozen, portionable by the ladle | Fine peas IQF 2.5 kg bag |
| Dressing and cooking fat | Professional 5-litre cans | Extra virgin olive oil 100% Italy 5 L |
What about allergens and traceability?
In institutional kitchens every ingredient must be documented. This is where the Italian DOP and IGP denominations work in your favour: Parmigiano Reggiano DOP and Gragnano IGP pasta are produced under specifications controlled by their consortia, with a defined origin, defined production rules and a supply chain that can be traced back step by step. For every product, data sheets with ingredient and allergen information are available on request, so the declaration on the menu plan matches what is actually in the kettle.
How does delivery to care homes and hospitals work?
Institutional kitchens plan in weekly cycles, so deliveries must be predictable. LAPA delivers across Switzerland with refrigerated vehicles on scheduled days: the cold chain is maintained from the warehouse to your loading dock, for fresh, frozen and ambient goods on the same truck. Orders are placed online or by phone, and the assortment stays consistent over time — essential when your menu plan is written four weeks ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Does LAPA supply schools, hospitals and care homes?
Yes. LAPA supplies professional kitchens of every size across Switzerland, from restaurants to collective catering, with scheduled refrigerated delivery and professional formats.
Which pasta withstands cook-and-hold in a canteen?
Bronze-drawn durum wheat pasta from Gragnano IGP, such as Di Martino spaghetti 1.7 mm: it keeps its bite when pre-cooked, blast-chilled and regenerated.
What is the advantage of IQF vegetables for large kitchens?
Each piece is frozen individually, so you portion exactly what the day's service needs — from a 2.5 kg bag of fine peas — and the rest stays frozen. No waste, constant quality all year.
Are large formats really cheaper per portion?
Yes: a 10 kg bag-in-box or a carton of 6Ă—2.5 kg cans lowers the price per kilo, reduces packaging waste and cuts handling time in the kitchen compared with retail formats.
How do I get product sheets for allergen declarations?
Simply request them for the products in your order: data sheets with ingredients and allergens are available, and DOP/IGP denominations add a certified, consortium-controlled supply chain.
Bring Italian quality to your collective kitchen
Plan your next menu cycle with authentic Italian products in professional formats. Browse the LAPA assortment or call +41 76 361 70 21 for an offer tailored to your institution. Scheduled refrigerated delivery across Switzerland.
