Lidl GB has increased its food waste reduction target and is introducing programmes to accelerate the process.

Its 2025 five-year target had seen look to cut food waste by a half by 2030, but this has now been revised “to a more ambitious 70%” said the retailer.

To meet this target Lidl is extending its current partnership with charity funder Neighbourly to trial its Surplus Saviours food redistribution initiative in the Midlands. This is expected to redistribute more than 5,000 tonnes of food to those in need.

It will also run an animal feed trial in the Peterborough area that will see inedible fresh bakery used to create food for animals.

“At Lidl, we set ambitious targets that challenge how we operate and inspire innovation when it comes to food waste,” said Lidl GB head of sustainability Matt Juden-Bloomfield.

“We've made good strides, but we know we can do more. With that in mind, we have increased our targets to ensure we remain accountable and also introduced some exciting new trials to take things to the next level.

“We remain committed to accelerating our progress in this space and collaborating closely with our industry peers to drive lasting impact for both the environment and the communities we are at the heart of.”

Lidl’s announcement has been welcomed by Estelle Herszenhorn, director of food system transformation at environmental organisation WRAP.

She said: “For the past 10 years, Lidl GB has been an active and engaged signatory of WRAP’s UK Food & Drink Pact. It has been fantastic seeing them offer loose fruits and vegetables and adopting best practice labelling.

“Both practices help shoppers reduce their household food waste. In-store, Lidl GB's initiative on matching bakery products with demand aligns with WRAP's priority of preventing food waste before it occurs. We are delighted to see increased paths for redistribution where food is surplus – a move WRAP also encourages.”

Since 2016 the retailer has donated 50m meals. It added that each of its stores has local charity links “with processes in place to ensure as much suitable surplus food as possible is donated”.

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