Lidl Hellas

The initiative aims to provide meaningful, dignified and consistent support to people and families in vulnerable circumstances, through a strategic partnership between Lidl Hellas and the non-profit organization Odyssey. With a focus on access to quality food and essential goods, the partnership is built around two core actions: “A Meal of Joy” and “Boxes of Love”.

The initiative serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it responds directly to real social needs by offering warm meals and packages with food and essential items to vulnerable groups. On the other hand, it showcases a partnership model between a business and an NGO that goes beyond a one-off donation, creating continuity, trust and measurable social impact.

For Lidl Hellas, the initiative is part of its responsible business approach and its strategic commitment to doing what is “Good for people”. It is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, mainly SDG 2 “Zero Hunger”, SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being”, SDG 10 “Reduced Inequalities” and SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals”.

People and families in vulnerable circumstances, beneficiaries of social care organizations, people facing food insecurity, employees-volunteers of Lidl Hellas and local communities in Athens and Thessaloniki.

The partnership began in September 2024, was implemented throughout 2025 and is being renewed for a third year in 2026.

The partnership between Lidl Hellas and Odyssey began in September 2024 and is implemented in Athens and Thessaloniki, using Odyssey’s Social Kitchen in Thessaloniki and Odyssey’s Academy in Athens. Through “A Meal of Joy”, volunteers, including Lidl Hellas employees, prepare, cook and distribute warm meals to people in need.

Lidl Hellas covers the operating costs of the actions and provides fresh, high-quality ingredients, such as fruit, vegetables, legumes and wholegrain cereals. The meals are designed based on the principles of the Planetary Health Diet, connecting social contribution with healthier and more sustainable nutrition. Lidl Hellas also contributed to the creation of the kitchen at Odyssey’s youth center in Thessaloniki, which is powered by Lidl Hellas and where meals are prepared following zero-waste cooking principles.

At the same time, through the “Boxes of Love”, families living below the poverty line receive dry food and essential items. The program supports a broad network of social organizations, including OKANA, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Arsis, Ithaca Laundry Athens, the UNESCO Group of Piraeus and Islands, “The Smile of a Child”, A21 and other social care organizations.

The innovative element of the initiative lies in its structured partnership model, clear roles, active employee participation and the ability to transform corporate giving into a recurring, dignified and operationally reliable social intervention.

The initiative is implemented in partnership with the non-profit organization Odyssey, which provides expertise, infrastructure and direct access to vulnerable groups and social organizations. Lidl Hellas contributes through financial support, coverage of operating costs, provision of ingredients, employee participation and infrastructure support, while Odyssey organizes preparation, cooking, distribution and connection with beneficiaries.

The partnership acts as a bridge between the business sector, civil society and local social care structures. Through the network of partner organizations, support reaches different groups of people experiencing food insecurity, poverty or social exclusion. The renewal of the partnership for a third year in 2026 confirms its strategic value and long-term perspective.

Employee participation is a key element of the initiative. Lidl Hellas employees take part as volunteers in the preparation, cooking and distribution of meals, turning corporate responsibility into a lived act of giving.

In 2025, a total of 624 volunteers contributed to the implementation of the actions. This participation strengthens the internal culture of solidarity, creates a meaningful connection with local communities and proves that social contribution can become a shared experience for the organization, its partners and society.

Athens and Thessaloniki, through Odyssey’s Academy in Athens, Odyssey’s Social Kitchen in Thessaloniki and partner social care organizations.

In 2025, the partnership between Lidl Hellas and Odyssey delivered measurable and meaningful social impact. Through “A Meal of Joy”, 15,624 food portions were offered to vulnerable people in Athens and Thessaloniki. At the same time, through the “Boxes of Love”, 1,228 packages with dry food and essential items were distributed to families living below the poverty line.

The initiative mobilized 624 volunteers and supported a broad network of social organizations and care structures. For beneficiaries, the impact means dignified access to food and essential goods. For partner organizations, it means stability, resources and operational support. For society, it is an example of how a business-NGO partnership can move beyond ad hoc donation and operate as an integrated model of social intervention with continuity, reliability and tangible results.

For Lidl Hellas, the partnership with Odyssey strengthens its social contribution and proves in practice that responsible business can generate meaningful value when delivered through stable partnerships. The company leverages its resources, experience, organizational capacity and the volunteering spirit of its employees to support people who are in real need.

The initiative strengthens stakeholder engagement, reinforces bonds with social organizations and local communities and cultivates an internal culture of participation and solidarity. At the same time, it positions Lidl Hellas as a reliable partner in purpose-driven collaborations that can create measurable, long-lasting and multiplier social value.