Prominent Transformation at Lidl: A Novelty Hardly Overlooked by Shoppers

In a significant move towards improving animal welfare and promoting sustainable sourcing, Lidl, a major food retailer in Germany, has announced a comprehensive plan that focuses on high welfare standards and domestic sourcing by 2025 and 2030.

The retailer, known for its competitive pricing, is noticed by customers for making changes that reflect a commitment to animal welfare. Lidl's strategy is to think of holding and origin together, ensuring that all raw materials for its products are sourced from German agriculture.

Since 2024, Lidl has been transitioning drinking milk to holding form stage 3 or higher exclusively. This change, aimed at improving conditions for animals and providing full transparency for customers, is not limited to dairy products; Lidl is also making progress in the meat and sausage sector. By the end of 2025, at least 50% of Lidl's own-brand "Butcher Fresh" meat and sausage products will be switched to holding form stage 3.

Lidl's goal is to make animal welfare the standard, not a luxury product. To support this, the company is expanding its animal welfare campaign to a wide range of dairy products, including quark, fresh whipped cream, sour cream, curd cheese, and skyr, all of which will be switched to animal welfare holding form stage 3 from late 2025.

In line with this commitment, Lidl has pledged to source all of its beef from British farmers by 2025, with no plans to import or switch to foreign suppliers. This commitment supports British farmers and ensures adherence to the UK’s recognized high standards of animal welfare, food safety, and environmental stewardship. Lidl has also announced a £1.5 billion investment in British beef production over the next five years to back this commitment.

The focus is not only on animal welfare standards but also on supporting the farming community through challenges, ensuring that supply chains are sustainable and that standards are not compromised even as others might reduce theirs. Lidl is also planning to support local farmers with fair animal welfare subsidies.

By 2030, Lidl is also aiming to balance its animal product offerings with increased plant-based proteins, indicating a broader strategy that includes improved animal welfare outcomes beyond just sourcing commitments. Research suggests that Lidl Germany is involved in a data-driven protein transition framework targeting a shift to a 20/80 plant/animal protein ratio by 2030, which potentially reduces greenhouse gas emissions and may improve animal welfare by reducing reliance on animal-based products.

The "Fair Holding" label, introduced by Lidl, makes shopping easier for animal welfare enthusiasts. This label guarantees higher animal protection and environmental standards. Lidl clearly marks products of stage 3 with its own label "Fair Holding - For the Welfare of Animals".

In conclusion, Lidl’s plan until 2025 strongly emphasizes sourcing from domestic suppliers committed to strict welfare standards, particularly with British beef, alongside financial investment in sustainable production. By 2030, Lidl is also aiming to balance its animal product offerings with increased plant-based proteins, indicating a broader strategy that includes improved animal welfare outcomes beyond just sourcing commitments.

Lidl's commitment to animal welfare extends beyond dairy and meat products, as they plan to switch a wide range of dairy products, such as quark, fresh whipped cream, sour cream, curd cheese, and skyr, to animal welfare holding form stage 3 from late 2025.
In a bid to promote health-and-wellness and sustainable living, Lidl is not only focusing on higher welfare standards but also is planning to balance its animal product offerings with increased plant-based proteins by 2030, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving animal welfare.
To support the home-and-garden lifestyle of health-conscious individuals, Lidl has introduced the "Fair Holding" label, guaranteeing higher animal protection and environmental standards, making it easier for customers who value such concerns to make informed choices.