Lidl GB has announced a significant step forward in its commitment to tackling food waste, with the launch of a new trial in partnership with social impact platform Neighbourly and the food-sharing app Olio. This collaborative effort seeks to redirect surplus food from stores to communities in need, marking a notable advancement in the supermarket's sustainability agenda. The trial, commencing on Friday, May 15, will involve 20 Lidl stores located in London and Northern England.
Expanding Efforts to Combat Food Waste
The initiative represents an expansion of Lidl GB and Neighbourly's existing work to reduce food waste. By integrating Olio's extensive network of "Food Waste Heroes" into Lidl's surplus food distribution system, the partnership aims to leverage the strengths of each organisation to maximize the amount of edible food that is saved from landfill. Olio's app, available for free download, will enable registered Food Waste Heroes to collect unsold items from participating Lidl stores during evening hours. These items can include a range of products, from chilled foods, meats, and poultry to bakery goods. The collected food can then be shared with neighbours, creating a community-driven approach to food redistribution. Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, expressed his organisation's dedication to ensuring edible surplus food reaches those who need it most, highlighting the expanded programme's potential impact. Saasha Celestial-One, Co-Founder and COO of Olio, also conveyed enthusiasm for the collaboration, underscoring the shared goal of reducing food waste.
Projected Impact and Future Rollout
The trial is projected to have a substantial impact, with expectations that it will redistribute over 5,000 tonnes of food, equivalent to approximately 11.9 million meals, to individuals and families facing food insecurity. This ambitious goal underscores the scale of the problem and the potential of such partnerships to make a tangible difference. Following the initial trial phase, Lidl GB has ambitions for a national rollout of the scheme by the end of 2026, provided the pilot proves successful. This move aligns with Lidl GB's broader food waste reduction targets. Earlier in 2026, the supermarket announced it had exceeded its Financial Year 2025 goal of a 40% reduction in food waste, subsequently raising its five-year target to a 70% reduction by 2030. The company has also implemented in-store operational changes, such as optimising bakery production to better match daily demand, which contributed to a 30% reduction in bakery-related food waste in FY2025. The partnership with Neighbourly and Olio is expected to further bolster these efforts, contributing significantly to the company's ambitious waste reduction objectives and reinforcing its commitment to sustainability within the food industry.