Lidl Ireland 2018 IMPACT Report highlights retailer’s significant contribution to County Cork
Lidl Ireland 2018 IMPACT Report highlights retailer’s significant contribution to County Cork
-Over €60 million of agri-food produce sourced from Cork-based suppliers, Over €165,000 contributed to local charities and community groups-
-575 people employed directly by Lidl in County Cork-
Lidl Ireland has, today, launched its 2018 IMPACT report, a major study of the positive impact Lidl is having on the communities it serves throughout Ireland. The study, which follows an economic report commissioned in recent years to quantify the contribution Lidl makes to the Irish economy, goes beyond the economic statistics to identify the additional impact Lidl is having locally in the context of its commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, A Better Tomorrow.
Among the key findings in the Lidl Ireland 2018 IMPACT report for County Cork are:
- Over €60 million of agri-food produce sourced from local suppliers
- 575 people employed directly in Lidl’s 22 Cork-based stores and Charleville distribution centre
- 60,000 meals donated through a nationwide initiative with FoodCloud to distribute surplus food to worthwhile causes that would otherwise go to waste
- 33 local charities and community groups working with Lidl and FoodCloud were supported in the region, benefiting from €81,000 in-kind donations to FoodCloud
- €77,000 raised for Jigsaw, Lidl’s charity partner which provides mental health support to young people
- Additional €10,000 donated to other local charities and community groups
- Twenty-two local Ladies Gaelic Football clubs benefiting from jerseys or other equipment under the Ladies Gaelic Football partnership
Lidl’s work with FoodCloud goes beyond the donation of meals and in-kind donations as it has reduced 27,000 kilos of food that otherwise would have been diverted to landfill which has an additional benefit to the environment of saving 87,000 kilos in CO2 emissions.
Commenting on the study JP Scally, Managing Director, Lidl Ireland said: “In recent years we commissioned an independent economic report to assess the contribution Lidl had made to Ireland’s economy which found that Lidl supports thousands of indirect jobs throughout Ireland in the agri-food sector based on the €700m food and drink we purchase every year from hundreds of Irish suppliers. However, we believe our contribution goes much deeper than that in the impact it has on communities – everything from our sustainable energy initiatives to the money raised for local good causes and from the benefits of the Jigsaw and LGFA partnerships to the number of meals donated to FoodCloud. This IMPACT report is a further initiative which highlights the ongoing contribution Lidl makes both large and small in every community where we operate. The individual efforts of our stores and teams across the country has made a real impact collectively with over 500,000 FoodCloud meals donated worth €700,000 and over €400,000 raised for Jigsaw nationwide.”
In highlighting the positive impact Lidl is having on supporting vital youth mental health services locally, Catherine Morley, Project Manager for Jigsaw in Cork said: "Jigsaw's strategic partnership with Lidl has been hugely influential in raising awareness about the Jigsaw Service in Cork. We strive to raise awareness and make the service accessible to all young people in Cork. The unwavering support and determination of Lidl, and their amazing staff, means that this is becoming a reality. It is clear that corporate social responsibility and community development are values which Lidl prioritises. Lidl’s support of Jigsaw stretches beyond words on a page or euros on a cheque. Together, we truly believe we have the potential to change how we, as a county and a country, thinks about, supports and responds to our young people's mental health. And that’s hugely exciting.”
Speaking about how Lidl’s commitment to the FoodCloud initiative is both avoiding food waste and supporting charities with food donations, Iseult Ward, co-founder and CEO of FoodCloud said: "In less than two years, Lidl Ireland has helped over 300 charities nationwide, and 33 in Cork City and County, rescuing surplus food from stores that might otherwise have gone to waste. This food represents the equivalent of over €1 million in savings to the charity sector which is an incredible achievement.”
Lidl has 22 stores based in Cork City and County and a major distribution centre in Charleville. The Cork store locations are: Fair Green, Macroom; Innismore, Ballincollig; O'Mahony Avenue, Bandon; Bishoptown Road, Wilton; Mount Agnes Road, Churchfield; Clashduv Road, Togher; Cornmarket Street, Cornmarket; Ballyhooly Road, Ballyvolane; Park Road, Mallow; Banteer Road, Kanturk; East Cliff Road, Riverstown, Glanmire; Barrack's Lane, Kinsale; Crosshaven Road, Carrigaline; Youghals, Clonakilty; Ticknock, Cobh; Riverside Way, Midleton; Courthouse Road, Fermoy; Glengariff Road, Bantry; Cork Road, Mitchelstown; Mill Road, Youghal; Balitmore Road, Carrigfadda, Skibbereen; and on the Limerick Road, Charleville.