COLTA explores collective catering and canteens as meaning-making systems that shape strategic narratives and influence social dynamics.

The project is structured around the following key objectives:

1. Collective Catering & Urban Change - Examine how collective catering contributes to urban transformations, positioning it within contemporary debates on public space and social infrastructure.
2. Historical & Theoretical Perspectives - Trace the historical evolution of collective catering, analyzing its philosophical, semiotic, anthropological, ecological, and design implications.
3. Cultural Narratives & Representations - Investigate how canteens are depicted in films, literature, journalism, and advertising, revealing their symbolic and social significance.
4. Ethnographic Fieldwork & Emerging Models - Analyze innovative approaches to collective catering, focusing on key examples such as: Caritas initiatives, Massimo Bottura’s Refettorio Ambrosiano, The Academic Tables (University of Gastronomic Sciences, Pollenzo), other catering practices and business models in the cities where COLTA operates.
5. Rhetoric & Experience of Collective Catering - Identify the communicative strategies and social dynamics that shape the experience of collective meals.
6. From Feeding to Conviviality - Explore how canteens can evolve from mere food distribution sites into spaces of community-building and social negotiation.
7. Co-Creation & Participatory Models - Investigate collaborative approaches (co-creation, co-design) to reimagine canteens as hubs of shared value production.
8. Sustainability & Future Scenarios - Define innovation pathways that align collective catering with circular economy principles, making it a driver of social and environmental sustainability.

COLTA will generate knowledge that redefines the role of collective catering, situating it within a broader socio-political and cultural landscape. By offering a nuanced analysis of the Italian collective catering sector, the project provides valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and industry professionals. It documents innovative practices, compiling a repertoire of emerging models that are reshaping collective food services.

Through the mapping of key trends and communication strategies, COLTA identifies the narratives and rhetorical tools driving transformation in the sector. This research supports policy and business decisions by offering strategic recommendations for more inclusive, participatory, and sustainable catering models. Ultimately, COLTA aims to shape future design approaches, establishing concrete guidelines to reimagine canteens as dynamic, community-centered spaces.

With its multidisciplinary approach and focus on social impact, COLTA aims to transform collective catering into a key site of innovation, inclusion, and sustainability.