site.btaKaufland Bulgaria to Cut Food Waste by Half by End-2030

The corporate objective of German hypermarket chain Kaufland in Bulgaria is to reduce food waste by half by the end of 2030 compared to 2018. The company commented on the issue of food waste in connection with a new EU directive, which requires Member States to reduce food waste generated by households, retailers, and restaurants by 30% compared to 2021–2023 levels. They will also have to reduce waste generated by food processing and production by 10%.

"Our main priority is to prevent food waste in the supply chain from the very beginning. If that is not possible, we strive to make use of the food through collaboration with initiatives and associations or through recycling", Kaufland added.

The company focuses on four priorities: prevention, avoidance, recycling, and education. They added that it is important to raise awareness among employees and customers.

In association with the platform FoodObox, Kaufland Bulgaria is carrying out a project to prevent food waste by offering boxed products nearing their expiration date (at least three days away), making them available at a minimum 40% discount. This service is offered at eight stores. So far, it has saved over a tonne of food and reduced carbon emissions by 2.5 tonnes, the company added.

Kaufland and FoodObox are organizing a massive education campaign for the school year 2025/2026. The initiative, dubbed "Food Doesn't Belong in the Trash," aims to raise awareness among children about responsible food consumption and cutting food waste. The campaign will cover 3,000 students at elementary and middle grades level at 35 schools in Sofia and cities across southwestern Bulgaria. During its previous two editions, the initiative reached over 7,000 children in Sofia, Pernik, and Botevgrad, and by the end of this new phase, the number of participants will have exceeded 10,000, according to Kaufland.

The chain also partners with a food bank called Verniat Nastoinik since 2023. It is one of two food bank operators licensed in Bulgaria.

BTA contacted hypermarket chains Lidl, Kaufland, Fantastico and Billa for information on food waste as part of an initiative supported by the European Parliament and dedicated to the implementation of European legislation in Bulgaria.