Disclosed is a method for separating and stacking slices of food, in particular slices of cheese (2). In said method, a plurality of slices of food (2) is continuously conveyed by a feeding belt conveyor (3) such that the slices of food adjoin each other in rows. A rotating transfer roll (5) picks up the slices of food (2) from the feeding belt conveyor (3) and places same on top of each other in a stacking zone (4), the transfer roll (5) jointly accommodating a row of slices of food by means of a corresponding plurality of holding units (6). During rotation of the transfer roll, the individual slices of food (2) are separated from each other as a result of a relative movement of the holding units in the axial direction, and the separated individual slices (2) detach from the holding units (6) and are stacked on top of each other in the stacking zone (4). While on the transfer roller, the cheese slices are held in place by vacuum suction and subsequently released by an overpressure of said vacuum.
