Ahold Delhaize and The Global FoodBanking Network continue partnership one year on

September 11, 2025 – It’s been a little over a year since Ahold Delhaize entered its partnership with The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN). During this time, we've made meaningful progress together, and we’re happy to continue this collaboration as part of our ambition to support the transition to a healthier, more sustainable food system. Tackling food insecurity and food waste is central to our strategic priority, Healthy Communities & Planet, which recognizes the well-being of people and the planet are deeply interconnected. By extending our work with GFN, we can contribute more impact to efforts in food security and food waste reduction, while amplifying and accelerating the great work that our local brands have already been doing for many years. 

Since joining forces last year, Ahold Delhaize and GFN have helped provide the equivalent of 2.9 million meals. Through this partnership, we have supported GFN’s services to food banks in more than 50 countries, helping to strengthen and sustain their operations, including:
 

• Customized training and technical assistance: supporting food bank operations based on priority needs, fostering resilience, compliance, and sustainable growth.
• Knowledge sharing and peer network: facilitating the exchange of best practices, adaptable programs, and innovative approaches across borders.
• Capacity-building grants: fueling innovation and supporting growth in areas of efficiency, nutrition, and resilience.
• Agricultural recovery and sourcing partnerships: developing strategic sourcing partnerships across the supply chain to increase the distribution of nutritious foods, including the agricultural sector.

In addition to these efforts, our partnership has supported four local initiatives in various markets where Ahold Delhaize brands operate.

Greece: supporting the Athens Central Grocery Market surplus agricultural recovery program
Since September 2024, the surplus agricultural recovery program from the Athens Central Grocery Market (ACGM) has recovered and redistributed more than 75,934 kilograms of fresh produce from 29 market vendors. This initiative has reached 42,584 people through 87 local charities across the Attica region of Athens.

Distribution combines warehouse dispatch and direct delivery by volunteers, with partner charities becoming increasingly creative and efficient to manage the short shelf life of fresh produce. To balance demand, the food bank is expanding partnerships by engaging more charities and vendors, recently connecting with 23 new merchants – half expressing interest and two donating surplus food immediately. With ongoing community engagement through leaflets, newsletters, and in-person visits, the initiative is on track to meet its September 2025 goals of distributing 50,000 kilograms and engaging 20 vendors.
 

Romania: facilitating the expansion of the Bucharest Food Bank warehouse
The Bucharest Food Bank’s move to a new warehouse in September 2024 has enhanced its capacity to receive, store, and distribute food efficiently. The modern facility, featuring 224 m² of cold storage and energy-efficient systems, now supports over 57,500 people through 173 charitable organizations.

Since relocating, 14 new product donation contracts have been secured, increasing the amount of food recovered and redistributed. With quicker transportation routes and better loading facilities, they can now serve their beneficiaries more efficiently and reliably.
 

Indonesia: supporting surplus recovery activities for SOS Bali’s Healthy School Meals program
SOS Bali Food Bank’s Healthy School Meals program has served more than 19,466 nutritious meals to 517 children in two elementary schools since November 2024. Food recovery partnerships with hotels, suppliers, and local farms have rescued 3,550 kilograms of food—including 3,205 kilograms of fresh produce incorporated into these meals.

In addition to providing food, SOS Bali’s volunteers prepare, cook, and serve meals while also coordinating nutrition education, hygiene, and sports sessions—promoting healthy habits and wellbeing among the students.
 

United States: supporting Feeding America’s Food Rescue Challenge
In the United States, we supported Feeding America’s Food Rescue Challenge, aimed at securing 5 billion pounds (approx. 227 million kilograms) of rescued food annually. Our partnership helped secure investments necessary to sustain and scale the food rescue efforts, ensuring that food banks and partner agencies can effectively distribute resources within their communities.

“We’re grateful for the strong and positive collaboration we’ve built with GFN over the past year, and excited to continue this collaboration,” said Alex Holt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ahold Delhaize. “By amplifying the impactful work our local brands have been doing for years—supporting food banks, reducing food waste, and caring deeply for their local communities—we are pleased to strengthen that impact by partnering with GFN and combining expertise, commitment, and shared purpose to create lasting impact across communities.”