Meal voucher

A meal voucher or luncheon voucher is a voucher for food. A meal voucher may be redeemable a meal given to employees as an employee benefit, allowing them to eat at outside restaurants, typically for lunch. In many countries, meal vouchers have had favorable tax treatment. Vouchers are typically in the form of paper tickets but are gradually being replaced by electronic vouchers in the form of a special payment card.

United Kingdom

A luncheon voucher was a paper ticket (voucher) used by some employees in the United Kingdom to pay for meals in private restaurants. It allowed companies to subsidise midday meals (luncheons) for their employees without having to run their own canteens.

The scheme dates to 1946, when food rationing was still in force following the end of the war. The British government granted an extra-statutory tax concession, believing that this would help citizens afford healthy meals. Under the concession, meal vouchers were free of income tax and national insurance contributions up to the value of 3 shillings (15 pence) a day. The initial level of 2s. 3d. (11.25p, £5.01 in 2021) was increased in 1948 to level of 3/- (15p, £5.80 in 2021), but was not later adjusted for inflation.[1] The concession was abolished as redundant, 15p per day having become a trivial amount, from 6 April 2013.[2]

In the early days, a company that wanted to subsidise their staff lunches, but not run a canteen, had to have vouchers printed and make arrangements with one or more local restaurants to accept them. In addition, it would have to administer the scheme (for instance by checking and counting the vouchers returned from the restaurants prior to settling their account). In 1954, a businessman, John Hack, realised that a single standardised voucher acceptable across the UK would be more logical and efficient. He subsequently started Luncheon Vouchers Limited in November 1954 to implement a nationwide luncheon voucher scheme.[3] In 1956, nine large catering companies purchased the company, with Hack staying on as managing director. The company was bought by Accor in 1982.[4] Restaurants that accept the vouchers display an "LV" logo in their windows.

In 1978, luncheon vouchers became associated with London brothel madam Cynthia Payne after a police raid, when confused media reports said her brothel accepted the vouchers as payment.[5] In fact, she used out-of-date vouchers as difficult-to-forge physical accounting tokens for "proof of services performed".[6]

Accor and Edenred

By 1983, Accor owned both the British Luncheon Vouchers and the French Ticket Restaurant. Accor spun off the voucher business in 1998 as Accor Services, which became Edenred in 2010.[7]

Belgium

Meal vouchers were introduced in Belgium in 1965. Electronic meal vouchers were introduced in 2011 and the old paper meal voucher system was phased out on 1 January 2016.

France

Meal vouchers were introduced to France in 1962 by Jacques Borel, who was inspired by Luncheon Vouchers; he called them Ticket Restaurant. Starting in 1976, Ticket Restaurant expanded outside France, and became part of Accor in 1983.[7]

Portugal

In Portugal, the meal allowance is an optional supplementary remuneration package through which employers contribute to their employees' living expenses arising from their professional activities. It can be granted in two ways: in kind, mainly through a dedicated electronic card (commonly known as a “meal card”), or in cash, added to the basic salary.[8]

United States

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,[9] formerly and colloquially still known as the Food Stamp Program, or simply food stamps, is a United States federal government program that provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income persons to help them maintain adequate nutrition and health. It is a federal aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), though benefits are distributed by specific departments of U.S. states (e.g., the Division of Social Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, etc.). In 2018, SNAP benefits supplied roughly 40 million Americans, at an expenditure of $57.1 billion.[10][11]

Breadcoin was created in Washington DC in 2016 to address food insecurity.[12]

References

  1. ^ Luncheon Vouchers (Tax Concessions) debate, Hansard (House of Commons debate), 12 July 1979
  2. ^ The abolition of 36 tax reliefs: response to consultation Archived 7 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine HM Treasury, issued 6 December 2011
  3. ^ "Luncheon vouchers help workers get cheaper meals – archive, 1957". The Guardian. 6 February 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Ria Money Transfer - Send Money Online to Over 190 Countries Instantly". www.riamoneytransfer.com. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  5. ^ Rawlinson, Kevin (15 November 2015). "Former brothel madam Cynthia Payne dies, aged 82". The Guardian.
  6. ^ Dowling, Tim (18 November 2015). "When Cynthia Payne gave me a luncheon voucher". The Guardian.
  7. ^ a b "50 ans d'innovation Archived 2014-04-24 at the Wayback Machine", Ticket Restaurant web site
  8. ^ "Cartão refeição: o que é, como funciona, e onde pode ser usado?". Coverflex. Portugal. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
  9. ^ Nutrition Assistance Program Home Page, U.S. Department of Agriculture (official website), March 3, 2011 (last revised). Accessed March 4, 2011.
  10. ^ "SNAP Benefits and the Government Shutdown". Econofact. 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  11. ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (1961-01-01). "Government social benefits: to persons: Federal: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  12. ^ Iati, Marisa (2019-01-11). "'Breadcoin' is a new currency in D.C. for people in need". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
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