What is Lidl GB & Neighbourly's Food Redistribution Scheme?

Lidl GB has expanded its partnership with Neighbourly to trial a food redistribution scheme with Olio.

The supermarket plans to roll out the initiative across the UK by the end of 2026 as part of its food sustainability commitments.

How the redistribution works

Neighbourly will integrate Olio's network of Food Waste Heroes into Lidl's surplus food network. The model operates through the Olio app, which customers can download for free.

Registered Food Waste Heroes can collect items from Lidl stores during evening hours. These items include chilled food, meat, fish, poultry and bakery goods.

Volunteers then share the collected items with neighbours nearby. The system operates at no cost to users.

Steve Butterworth, Chief Executive Officer of Neighbourly, says: "Our mission has always been to ensure as much edible surplus food as possible goes to those in our communities that need it most. By expanding the programme to evening collections and including Olio's Food Waste Heroes, we are providing Lidl with a robust additional redistribution layer."

Trial scale and timeline

The trial will launch on Friday 15 May across 20 stores in London and Northern England. According to Lidl GB, the trial could redistribute more than 5,000 tonnes of food if successful.

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This volume equals 11.9 million meals for those in need. Lidl GB aims to complete a national rollout by the end of 2026.

Saasha Celestial-One, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Olio, says: "We're delighted to be joining forces with Neighbourly and Lidl. We're looking forward to working together to maximise the amount of edible surplus that can reach local communities from Lidl stores and making sure as little food as possible goes to waste.

"We're excited to see the impact of the trial and we know our volunteers will be thrilled to have the chance to rescue Lidl food via our app."

Wider food waste targets

Lidl GB announced a new food waste reduction target in early 2026 after exceeding its FY2025 goal. The retailer achieved a 40% reduction in food waste and raised its five-year target from 50% to 70% by 2030.

The supermarket has updated its in-store bakery operations to align product volume with demand throughout the day. According to the company, this helped reduce bakery-related food waste by 30% in FY2025.

The Lidl Plus app offers customers a 20% discount on in-store bakery items after 7pm. This measure further reduces food waste levels produced by the chain.

Matt Juden, Head of Sustainability at Lidl GB, says: "At Lidl GB, we believe that no good food should ever go to waste. While we have already made massive strides in reducing our surplus, this extension of our Neighbourly-managed programme allows us to have even more impact."

Matt adds: "It ensures that we are reaching every corner of the communities we serve, making sure edible food stays on plates and out of the bin."

Steve from Neighbourly adds: "This isn't about diverting food away from charities, it's about opening up new streams of chilled and fresh produce for them, while ensuring nothing goes to waste if a charity can't make it."