Lidl ropes in Olio and Neighbourly in landmark surplus food trial that could rescue 11.9 million meals a year

"Lidl GB has thrown its weight behind one of the most ambitious surplus food redistribution trials yet seen on the British high street, drafting in the consumer food-sharing app Olio alongside its long-standing charity partner Neighbourly in a move that could keep millions of additional meals out of the bin each year."

"The German-owned discounter, which has been one of the fastest-growing grocers in Britain over the past decade, will switch on the new three-way model on Friday 15 May across 20 stores in London and the north of England. If the pilot delivers as hoped, Lidl expects a nationwide rollout by the end of 2026 - a step change that would see more than 5,000 tonnes of edible surplus, equivalent to roughly 11.9 million meals, redirected annually from landfill to people who need it."

"The partnership is unusual in that it knits together two of the most prominent names in British food redistribution for the first time. Neighbourly, the Bristol-based social impact platform that already manages Lidl's "Feed it Back" scheme, will continue to coordinate the pipeline. Olio, the London-headquartered app that has built a community of more than nine million users globally around the idea of sharing rather than binning leftover food, will plug its volunteer "Food Waste Heroes" into Lidl's evening collection slots as a second tier behind charities."

"In practical terms, registered Food Waste Heroes will arrive at participating stores after trading hours to collect chilled lines, including meat, fish and poultry, as well as Lidl's popular bakery range. The food is then offered, free of charge, to neighbours through the Olio app - extending the reach of the redistribution network into the evenings, when charity partners traditionally find collections hardest to staff."

Lidl GB is launching a three-way surplus food redistribution trial with Olio and Neighbourly to keep edible food out of landfill. The pilot begins Friday 15 May across 20 stores in London and northern England. If successful, Lidl expects a nationwide rollout by the end of 2026, redirecting more than 5,000 tonnes of surplus food annually, equivalent to about 11.9 million meals. Neighbourly will coordinate the redistribution pipeline and continue managing Lidl’s existing “Feed it Back” scheme. Olio will add a volunteer layer through its “Food Waste Heroes,” who collect chilled items after trading hours, including meat, fish, poultry, and bakery products. The food is then offered free of charge to neighbours via the Olio app, extending collections into evenings when charities are hardest to staff.

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