Lidl GB has expanded its partnership with social impact platform Neighbourly and food-sharing app Olio, enabling more shoppers to collect surplus food from stores for free at the end of the day via the Olio app.
The initiative is now available in around 200 Lidl stores across Great Britain, with a nationwide rollout planned by the end of 2025.
The scheme allows Olio’s volunteer network of “Food Waste Heroes” to collect fresh produce, meat and bakery items when local charities are unable to make late-evening collections. Food is then redistributed within local communities rather than going to waste.
Preventing food waste
The rollout follows a trial across 20 stores that prevented around 1,200kg of food waste each week. Lidl estimates the programme will redistribute 5,000 tonnes of surplus food annually once fully rolled out, equivalent to almost 11.9 million meals.
One beneficiary, Buzzee Beez Pre-school Food Scheme in Harlow, Essex, has already seen the impact. Kelly Stallwood, deputy manager, said: “These new evening collections of chilled and bakery items have been so beneficial to the families we support in the pre-school… In the pre-school we support over 50 families, so this surplus food really helps make a difference.”
“A community effort”
Georgina Hall, director of corporate affairs at Lidl GB, said: “Real change requires a community effort, and we are incredibly grateful to our store teams, charity partners and the dedicated Food Waste Heroes who are rescuing good quality food for those who need it most.”
Neighbourly, which connects businesses with local charities and community groups, has worked with Lidl since 2016 through the retailer’s Feed it Back programme. Together they have redistributed more than 50 million meals. Earlier research by Lidl and Neighbourly, based on a survey of around 900 charities and community organisations, found that almost 95% believed smaller local causes were being overlooked for support, highlighting the importance of community-focused redistribution schemes.
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