Lidl UK to donate two million meals to charity

German discounter Lidl has pledged to donate up to two million meals to charities all across the United Kingdom to “make a real, positive contribution”.

Tackle surplus food

Plenty of food in supermarkets never gets purchased and is thrown away, but in an attempt to lower food waste, Lidl UK has launched a plan to donate up to two million meals to charity every year. By June 2017, up to 100 Lidl stores should have joined the plan, with Lidl UK’s full store network in action by the summer of 2018. Not only will the chain donate surplus food every day, it has also donated more than 100 fridges and freezers to help store the donated food.

Lidl UK’s Daniela Tulip, head of corporate social responsibility, feels it is the company’s duty to make a “real, positive contribution to the communities that we operate in”. With not only food but also household appliances, the company expects charities like Neighbourly to be able to help more people in need.

The plan should help Lidl UK reach its goal of cutting down its food waste by 20 % and double the amount of food surplus redistributed in the next few years. Local competitor, Tesco, has already donated up to five million meals since January 2016 through a similar plan.