Aldi, Lidl and Co.: New law from May - less waste, more discounts?

Created: 03/01/2022, 15:47

By: Tobias Becker

Aldi Süd – A new law will apply from May to counteract food waste.

Supermarkets could also create advantages for customers.

There will soon be another change on customers of Aldi, Lidl and other supermarkets.

A new law is intended to ensure that not only do customers benefit, but that the environment also suffers less damage.

It's about wasting food - or rather, avoiding it.

Big waste at the end of the day should be a thing of the past.

In addition, last-minute shoppers could snag one or two bargains.

Aldi Süd, Lidl and Co.: This rule applies from May

"Perishable foodstuffs that are about to expire can be sold at significantly lower prices".

This rule will come into effect from May 2022.

This can have a daily impact on the sale of fruit and vegetables in particular.

Fresh baked goods are also affected, reports HEIDELBERG24*.

The new thing about it: From May it is sufficient if Aldi Süd and Co. sticks the respective percentage sign on the product.

Until now, discounters always had to make the new and old prices clear.

The hope: The new law should also encourage customers to take away products at the end of the day that would otherwise end up in the bin because they cannot be offered again the next day.

Aldi Süd, Lidl and Co.: Food waste is a problem in Germany

In general, food waste is a big issue in Germany.

As the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) shows, 0.5 million tons of food waste are generated in retail every year.

That's four percent.

The percentage is actually quite low, because: In primary production, twelve percent, i.e. 1.4 million tons, are thrown away, in processing it is even 2.2 million tons.

However, the greatest amount of food wastage occurs in private households.

6.1 million tons make up 52 percent and mean that each consumer throws away around 75 kilograms per year.

A shortcoming in Germany: The best-before date, which is not an expiry date, is seen as exactly that.

Many people in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Germany throw away food as soon as the best-before date is reached.

Even when shopping, such items are left lying around more quickly.

The new ability to offer easy last-minute discounts could encourage customers to take those items home and use them up instead of ending up in the trash.

Aldi is also currently increasing the prices of certain dairy products.