Salisbury, N.C. — Food Lion’s parent company, Delhaize Group, has released its 2014 sustainability progress report.
A key highlight from the report includes: Food Lion piloted a zero waste program to accelerate waste reduction in its stores. The company launched 50 stores in 2014 and plans to have nearly 200 stores on the program by the end of 2015. Through this program, waste is diverted from landfills and more materials are recycled, local food donations are increased and food that is not donated is provided for composting, or other recycling methods. For example, in the pilot store, the company reduced monthly dumpsters to landfills from 24 to four and increased fresh food donations to local feeding agencies by nearly 2,400 pounds.
“Food Lion has a strong commitment to sustainability in all that we do,” says Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. “As part of our parent company’s ambition to be a sustainability leader in our local markets by 2020, I’m incredibly proud of the work Food Lion has done, and will continue to do, to be a leader in the 10 states in which we operate.”
“As one of the nation’s largest grocers, Food Lion has certified more stores through Energy Star in its history than any other supermarket retailer. In addition, we have recycled nearly 120,000 tons of plastic, paper and cardboard from our stores in partnership with our customers, and we took a great step in giving back to our communities through our Food Lion Feeds program announced last year,” adds Ham. “While this is great progress, we know there is much more we can do.”
The full report, along with the company’s Sustainability 2020 goals, can be found at www.delhaizegroup.com.
Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Food Lion is a company of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.
SOURCE: Food Lion