Community support, responsible business and investment in a sustainable future remain among the most important priorities of the company Delhaize Serbia, which is confirmed by the results presented in the Report on Sustainable Business for 2025.
Through food donation programs, education of students about healthier eating habits, continuous care of employees, improvement of a healthier assortment for customers and reduction of environmental impact, the company continues to consistently incorporate sustainability into every segment of its business.
The program of direct donations "Food for All" remained one of the pillars of socially responsible business during 2025.
During the last year, with the support of food banks and partner associations, 2.208 tons of foodstuffs were donated to citizens who need this type of support the most.
The program was further improved by including a larger number of solidarity kitchens, which expanded its reach and enabled the support to reach an even greater number of beneficiaries.
Every day, more than 6,5 tons of food are donated from Maxi stores, which volunteers distribute to 14 locations throughout Serbia.
Thanks to the continuous development of the donation system, more than 11 million kilograms of food have been donated since the launch of the program in 2013.
The importance of this initiative was confirmed by the national award of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce "Đorđe Weifert" for socially responsible business, as well as the award "Leaders of sustainable transformation" awarded at the CSR & ESG Forum.
"When you are in the field every day, you can best see how important it is for food support to be continuous, and this is exactly what is made possible thanks to the 'Food for All' program. Behind every donated food package is a whole chain of support and solidarity - people whose dedication and teamwork towards a common goal ensure that food aid reaches the citizens who need it most every day. And that is its greatest value," said Srđan Budimčić from the Food Bank of Vojvodina.
Photo: Nihil studioSustainability is consistently built into
every segment of its business.
Commitment to future generations is confirmed by the continuation of the school program "Healthy food every day", which Delez Serbia implements with the support of the Ministry of Education.
In June 2025, the second year of the program ended, during which this educational caravan visited 82 elementary schools in over 50 cities, municipalities and settlements throughout Serbia.
During the 2025/2026 school year. In 2008, the program entered its third cycle and included all primary schools in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Niš.
Since the beginning of implementation, more than 30.000 fourth-grade students from over 330 schools across Serbia have participated in interactive workshops dedicated to proper nutrition, hydration and the importance of physical activity.
"We believe that sustainable business only makes sense when it creates value for people, the community and the environment. That's why we strive to contribute to the community in which we operate every day - whether through food donations, educating children, supporting local producers or creating a better working environment for our employees. It is consistency in such decisions that brings the biggest changes, which is why we will continue to operate responsibly and build a more sustainable future together with our partners," said Gorica Jovović, the company's general director.
Continuous progress was also achieved in the field of employee development.
Delez Serbia is the holder of the international Top Employer certificate for the second year in a row, while more than 113.000 hours of training and professional development were realized in 2025.
Women make up 71 percent of the total number of employees, and they are in 62 percent of managerial positions, which confirms the company's long-term commitment to the development of an equal, inclusive and stimulating work environment.
Along with continued investments in the modernization of technologies and processes, as well as investments in tools and equipment, the company also introduced safety ambassadors in distribution centers, which further improved safety and health at work.
In 2025, the rate of absenteeism due to work injuries was reduced by 24% compared to the previous year.
The company also continued with activities aimed at reducing the impact on the environment.
Greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) were reduced by 67,7 percent compared to the reference year 2018, while the amount of plastic used was reduced by 8,4 percent compared to 2021.
The new banana nursery in the Distribution Center in Dobanovci became the first facility in Serbia with an EU Taxonomy certificate that confirms compliance with European standards of sustainable construction.
The application of energy-efficient and environmentally responsible solutions in the nursery is also confirmed by the prestigious BREEAM certificate with an Outstanding rating, which confirms a high level of sustainability in all aspects - from design, through construction to the management of the facility itself.
By using the CHEP "pooling" system (sharing pallets), which encourages and enables a more sustainable logistics model, the company contributed to the saving of 153.355 dm³ of wood resources, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by over 488.000 kilograms and the amount of waste by 14.357 kilograms.
An innovative approach as a fundamental part of the business concept is also visible in the development of a range of healthier products.
In order to provide customers with even better quality products, cooperation with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine continued.
In addition to eggs rich in selenium, from 2025 eggs rich in vitamin D will be available in Maxi stores under the Nature's Promise brand.
Thanks to the cooperation and support directed at more than 200 fruit and vegetable producers from all parts of Serbia, customers can count on a wide selection of the highest quality domestic fruit and vegetables at MAXI markets every day.
During the previous year alone, the company purchased almost 56.000 tons of fruits and vegetables from domestic farms.
Cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade on innovations in the field of primary production continued, thanks to which customers in 2025 could find as many as 19 items bearing the "No Pesticide Residues" guarantee mark.
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