Lidl GB has announced the expansion of its 'Feed it Back' initiative to 196 UK branches, allowing shoppers to collect free surplus food at the end of the day. The scheme, a collaboration with social impact platform Neighbourly and food-sharing app Olio, aims to prevent edible food from going to waste by redistributing it to local communities.
How the Scheme Works
When local charities are unable to make late-evening collections, Olio's volunteer Food Waste Heroes step in. These volunteers gather surplus fresh produce, meat, and bakery items from Lidl stores, ensuring the food reaches families, shelters, and community groups instead of being discarded.
The initiative has already proven successful in a trial across 20 branches, preventing around 1,200kg of food waste every week. Once fully rolled out nationwide, it is expected to redistribute an impressive 5,000 tonnes of surplus food annually – the equivalent of almost 11.9 million meals.
What Foods Are Rescued?
Fresh items that cannot be stored overnight, such as chilled meat, fish, poultry, and Lidl's popular bakery goods, are among the products being rescued and passed directly to people in the local community.
Georgina Hall from 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."
Expansion of Existing Partnership
This expansion builds on Lidl GB's existing partnership with Neighbourly, which has delivered 50 million meals since 2016. The addition of Olio's network of Food Waste Heroes brings a new layer to the surplus food distribution framework.
Hall added: "With our sights set on a nationwide rollout by the end of this year, this expanding partnership will soon empower communities to rescue up to nearly 12 million meals every single year. This collaboration will make a huge impact on the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities everywhere."
How to Get Involved
Volunteers can easily sign up as Food Waste Heroes by downloading the Olio app and registering. They collect surplus food for free and are allowed to keep up to 10% of the rescued items for their own use. The rest is shared with neighbours and those in need through the app.
Full List of Participating Stores
The scheme includes stores across the UK, such as Lidl Alnwick, Lidl Ashington, Lidl Aylesbury, Lidl Banbury, Lidl Barnard Castle, Lidl Bedford (multiple locations), Lidl Berwick, Lidl Bicester, Lidl Biggleswade, Lidl Bingley, Lidl Bishop Auckland, Lidl Bishops Stortford, Lidl Blackbird Hill, Lidl Bletchley, Lidl Blyth, Lidl Borehamwood (two stores), Lidl Bradford (two stores), Lidl Braintree, Lidl Bridlington, Lidl Buckingham, Lidl Carlisle (two stores), Lidl Catterick, Lidl Chapel Allerton, Lidl Clacton (two stores), Lidl Coalville, Lidl Cockermouth, Lidl Colchester (three stores), Lidl Consett, Lidl Coventry (three stores), Lidl Cricklewood, Lidl Crook, Lidl Darlington (two stores), Lidl Driffield, Lidl Dunstable, Lidl Durham (three stores), Lidl Edgware, Lidl Edmonton (two stores), Lidl Enfield (two stores), Lidl Gateshead (three stores), Lidl Greenford, Lidl Guisborough, Lidl Halstead, Lidl Hanwell, Lidl Harlestone Road, Lidl Harlow (two stores), Lidl Harrogate, Lidl Hartlepool (two stores), Lidl Haverhill, Lidl Hayes (two stores), Lidl Hemel Hempstead, Lidl Hexham, Lidl High Wycombe, Lidl Hinckley, Lidl Houghton le Spring, Lidl Houghton Regis (two stores), Lidl Kempston, Lidl Kendal, Lidl Knaresborough, Lidl Leamington Spa, Lidl Leeds (two stores), Lidl Leicester (five stores), Lidl Letchworth, Lidl London (multiple stores including Alperton, East Acton, Loughton, South Oxhey, Acton, Hammersmith, Harrow, Harrow Weald, Heston, North Greenford, Northolt, Uxbridge Town Centre, Watford South), Lidl Loughborough, Lidl Luton (three stores), Lidl Maidenhead, Lidl Malton, Lidl Manchester Bradford Rd, Lidl Marlow, Lidl Marsh Rd, Lidl Maryport, Lidl Middlesbrough (two stores), Lidl Milton Keynes (three stores), Lidl Monks Cross, Lidl Morpeth, Lidl Newcastle (four stores), Lidl Northallerton, Lidl Northampton (four stores), Lidl Nuneaton (two stores), Lidl Peterlee, Lidl Pickering, Lidl Pinner, Lidl Preston Grange, Lidl Pudsey, Lidl Reading (four stores), Lidl Redcar, Lidl Richmond, Lidl Rugby, Lidl Rushden (two stores), Lidl Saffron Walden, Lidl Scarborough, Lidl Shelf, Lidl Shepherd's Bush, Lidl Shipley, Lidl Slough (two stores), Lidl South Ruislip, Lidl South Shields (two stores), Lidl South Wigston, Lidl Southgate Killingworth, Lidl Spennymoor, Lidl Stanmore, Lidl Stockton On Tees (four stores), Lidl Stratford On Avon, Lidl Sunderland (five stores), Lidl Tamworth (two stores), Lidl Thirsk, Lidl Tring, Lidl Uxbridge, Lidl Waltham Abbey, Lidl Waltham Cross, Lidl Walthamstow (two stores), Lidl Warwick, Lidl Wellingborough, Lidl Welwyn Garden City, Lidl Wembley, Lidl West Ealing, Lidl Whitby, Lidl Wigton, Lidl Wokingham, Lidl Wolverton, Lidl Wood Green, Lidl Woodley, Lidl Wycombe London Rd, Lidl York (two stores).
This expansion is set to make a significant impact on reducing food waste and supporting local communities across the UK.
