How Does Ahold Delhaize Promote Healthy Eating to Consumers?

Ahold Delhaize is a multinational food retailer operating across 17 brands with nearly 400,000 employees, serving 77 million customers weekly.

The company has positioned itself at the forefront of innovation in healthy foods, sustainability and supply chain transformation, releasing its 2025 Annual Report titled Creating Value Every Day.

The report details the company's impact on nature, communities and the climate, with particular emphasis on how these initiatives support healthier outcomes for customers. Ahold Delhaize recognises the interconnected nature of climate and environmental health, acknowledging that climate change acts as a key driver of nature loss.

The retailer's sustainability strategy centres around achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations by 2040. Working across the value chain with partners, Ahold Delhaize aims to reduce emissions and build long-term resilience.

In 2025, the company achieved a 39% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, while 41% of its top suppliers have set science-based sustainability targets. The retailer has reached 47% zero-emissions electricity usage, working towards its 2035 target of 100% zero-emissions electricity.

Emissions reduction in dairy

Ahold Delhaize has focused particularly on reducing emissions in its dairy supply chain, collaborating with Danone North America and The Nature Conservancy on a pilot programme to lower Scope 3 emissions from dairy used in some Danone yoghurt products.

The project will support participating dairy farms to adopt sustainable practices and technologies, helping to reduce methane generation and strengthen resource efficiency whilst potentially improving the quality of dairy products available to health-conscious consumers.

The dairy sector represents a significant portion of food retail emissions, making this collaboration a strategic priority for Ahold Delhaize's overall climate goals. By targeting methane reduction at farm level, the initiative addresses one of the most potent greenhouse gases in the agricultural supply chain.

Frans Muller, President and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, says: “As we leave 2025 behind, we can be proud of the progress we achieved and the strong foundation we built during the first year of Growing Together.

“An important aspect of our Growing Together strategy is our healthy communities and planet priority. We believe we have the responsibility and the opportunity to drive change beyond our own operations.

“Our strategy has been pressure tested, our capabilities are evolving and our teams are operating in a strong rhythm, which is delivering compounding results.

“We are carrying this momentum into 2026 with confidence in our execution, our portfolio and our ability to continue creating value for customers, associates, communities and shareholders.”

Addressing food insecurity challenges

In Q1 of 2025, Ahold Delhaize's brand Food Lion reached its goal to donate 1.5 billion meals to people facing food insecurity, months ahead of schedule. The brand has set a new goal to reach three billion meals donated by 2032, addressing the critical link between food access and public health outcomes.

The company aims to improve the health and nutrition of its customers by providing a wide range of healthier options across its brands' stores. Ahold Delhaize aims to make healthy eating easier by providing affordable and nutritious products, support services, education and transparent labelling.

The retailer is also working on reformulating products to improve nutrition by reducing levels of sugar, salt, colourants and additives. This reformulation strategy could mean customers have access to products that support better health outcomes without sacrificing taste or affordability.

Daniella Vega, Global Senior Vice President Health and Sustainability at Ahold Delhaize, says on LinkedIn: "What strikes me most is not a change in ambition but a shift in where the work sits.

"It's more embedded in how the business actually runs: sourcing, commercial decisions, finance, tech and customer experience."

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Reducing waste and packaging

Ahold Delhaize aims to contribute to a stronger food system by using resources efficiently and reducing waste. The company plans to allow materials to circulate for as long as possible, minimising costs and lowering emissions in its value chain.

In 2025, the retailer achieved a 10.9% reduction in virgin plastic use, beating its 2025 target of 5% virgin plastic. The company also aims to reduce total tonnes of food waste by 50% per €1m (US$1.18m) of food sales by 2030, against its 2016 baseline.

Ahold Delhaize's brands are sourcing packaging that relies less on finite resources and that is designed for multiple use cycles. The company aims to incorporate more post-consumer recycled content into its packaging, however strict regulations around food-grade recycled plastics have limited this approach.

The retailer continues to explore innovative packaging solutions across its brands, working with suppliers to develop materials that meet both regulatory requirements and sustainability objectives. This includes testing alternative materials and redesigning packaging to reduce overall material usage while maintaining product quality and safety standards.