German discounter Lidl has announced that it has entered into national partnership agreement with Blue Cross in Denmark to donate surplus food to those in need.
Through this initiative, surplus food from Lidl stores in the country will end up in hostels, institutions, and support services run by Blue Cross for the lonely and homeless, as well as those affected by mental illnesses and addiction.
'Sustainable Future'
Chief commercial officer of Lidl Denmark, Mikko Forsström, said that the partnership was fully in line with Lidl's CSR strategy.
“It is important for us to contribute to improving societal and environmental challenges. Therefore, we are very pleased to help both socially vulnerable Danes and reduce the food waste in our stores, thus helping to create a more sustainable future,” Forsström added.
Blue Cross will collect surplus food from around 25 Lidl stores in Denmark on a monthly basis, and distribute it to the socially vulnerable.
The collected food is expected to weigh several hundred kilograms a time.
Secretary general of Blue Cross Denmark, Christian Bjerre, said, "We have had a good relationship with Lidl over the last year, where the chain has donated surplus food to Blue Cross for Christmas and Easter.
“We are therefore pleased that we are now expanding cooperation in the form of the national partnership.”
The Beneficiaries
The partnership will benefit around 130,000 people, each year, in Blue Cross's hostels, in addition to children from Children's Blue House.
The intiative will also prove beneficial for Blue Cross's Family Network, which supports around 550 families struggling with poverty, abuse, illness, violence or other problems.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
