We are active agents in supporting institutions that fight the social exclusion of the most vulnerable. We offer food products and monetary support to organisations that work with children and young people at risk or that encourage entrepreneurship. We also support campaigns that contribute to social causes.
We regularly support over 2,000 institutions. In 2023, direct support in the form of monetary and food donations amounted to 87 million euros, 6% more than in 2022.
Bairro Feliz (Happy Neighbourhood) is a programme that provides financial support to the causes put forward by the entities and residents of the neighbourhoods where Pingo Doce stores are located and donates up to one thousand euros to the causes most voted for by customers. In the 2023 edition, the third held nationwide, around 3,000 entries were received, mostly from local institutions, with Pingo Doce contributing with more than 420,000 euros to the projects most voted for by the communities. The most supported areas were social inclusion (food and hygiene support, health care, well-being and sport, social support for the elderly and people with special needs, education and citizenship).
In 2023, Biedronka became the official sponsor of the 31stfinale of the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy – WOŚP (Great orchestra of Christmas Charity), the largest charity event in Poland, raising over 1,6 million euros by selling official merchandise and collecting donations from customers. The amount raised will be used to purchase and donation of equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, an infective disease.
Since 2021 Hebe has supported the programme led by the Women in E-Business Foundation aimed at encouraging women entrepreneurs to develop their own businesses.
Pingo Doce was the official food partner of World Youth Day (WYD), an international celebration held in Lisbon at the beginning of August 2023. More than 3.2 million euros were donated in food and monetary support. Pingo Doce served its fresh food and helped prepare the pilgrims’ kits, as well as serving other meal kits. This support involved 329 volunteers from the Group’s head offices in Portugal.
Jerónimo Martins Colombia, Caritas Polska and Caritas Colombia work together to provide humanitarian aid to populations in provinces in North Santander bordering Venezuela. Between 2020 and 2023, more than 30,000 people received baskets of essential food and non-food items. Vouchers that could be exchanged for food and hygiene products were also given to families in Bogotá and Soacha, cities with a high number of vulnerable Venezuelan migrants.
In partnership with ABACO (Associacion de Bancos de Alimentos de Colombia), Ara promoted the “Desayunos Saludables” (Healthy Breakfasts) programme, with the aim of providing 20% of the recommended daily nutritional needs for 920 children in the regions of Medellín, Cúcuta, Riohacha and Santa Marta, through breakfast packs consisting of fruit and bread or cereals. As part of this programme, 15 tonnes of food were donated.
Surplus food that cannot be sold, even if it complies with safety standards, is donated to social support organisations so that it can be distributed to people in situations of socio-economic vulnerability. This practice allows the products to fulfil their main and priority mission: to feed people. In 2023, around 19,300 tonnes of food were donated.
Bairro Feliz (Happy Neighbourhood) is a programme that provides financial support to the causes put forward by the entities and residents of the neighbourhoods where Pingo Doce stores are located and donates up to one thousand euros to the causes most voted for by customers. In the 2023 edition, the third held nationwide, around 3,000 entries were received, mostly from local institutions, with Pingo Doce contributing with more than 420,000 euros to the projects most voted for by the communities. The most supported areas were social inclusion (food and hygiene support, health care, well-being and sport, social support for the elderly and people with special needs, education and citizenship).
Since 2021 Hebe has supported the programme led by the Women in E-Business Foundation aimed at encouraging women entrepreneurs to develop their own businesses.
Jerónimo Martins Colombia, Caritas Polska and Caritas Colombia work together to provide humanitarian aid to populations in provinces in North Santander bordering Venezuela. Between 2020 and 2023, more than 30,000 people received baskets of essential food and non-food items. Vouchers that could be exchanged for food and hygiene products were also given to families in Bogotá and Soacha, cities with a high number of vulnerable Venezuelan migrants.
Surplus food that cannot be sold, even if it complies with safety standards, is donated to social support organisations so that it can be distributed to people in situations of socio-economic vulnerability. This practice allows the products to fulfil their main and priority mission: to feed people. In 2023, around 19,300 tonnes of food were donated.
In 2023, Biedronka became the official sponsor of the 31stfinale of the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy – WOŚP (Great orchestra of Christmas Charity), the largest charity event in Poland, raising over 1,6 million euros by selling official merchandise and collecting donations from customers. The amount raised will be used to purchase and donation of equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, an infective disease.
Pingo Doce was the official food partner of World Youth Day (WYD), an international celebration held in Lisbon at the beginning of August 2023. More than 3.2 million euros were donated in food and monetary support. Pingo Doce served its fresh food and helped prepare the pilgrims’ kits, as well as serving other meal kits. This support involved 329 volunteers from the Group’s head offices in Portugal.
In partnership with ABACO (Associacion de Bancos de Alimentos de Colombia), Ara promoted the “Desayunos Saludables” (Healthy Breakfasts) programme, with the aim of providing 20% of the recommended daily nutritional needs for 920 children in the regions of Medellín, Cúcuta, Riohacha and Santa Marta, through breakfast packs consisting of fruit and bread or cereals. As part of this programme, 15 tonnes of food were donated.
Cognizant of the need to develop a collective awareness to fight hunger and malnutrition among more vulnerable populations, the Group participates in campaigns for collecting food and other items, as well as in fundraising initiatives, to support the work carried out by charities.
Information on direct and indirect support provided to surrounding communities in 2023 and the food donation programme in Poland was confirmed by an external and independent entity for the Group’s 2023 Annual Report.