"You praise foreign things, you don't know your own" – this is a popular saying, which often has a grain of truth. On the occasion of Polish Food Day, Lidl Polska encourages frequent reaching for Polish fruit and vegetables, as well as food products, of which we can find many in Lidl Polska stores. The chain cooperates with over 8,401 suppliers from Poland on a daily basis, and in the chain's offer customers have access to approx. 450 products marked "Polish Product"2.
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One of the chain's own brands is the Pilos brand, which is created in cooperation with Polish dairies, among others, and its portfolio includes over 150 dairy products, which are available as part of the permanent assortment, seasonal products and the so-called in-out offer. Most Pilos brand products come from Polish suppliers3, and a large part of the assortment is marked "Polish product". The basis of most Pilos brand products is Polish milk, coming from large dairies that are strategic partners in creating the own brand – including SM Mlekovita, SM Mlekpol, OSM Koło, OSM Piątnica and SM Spomlek, as well as smaller and local ones: Agrocoop, OSM Siedlce, Ciechanowska SM and MSM Mońki.
Good because it's Polish
Due to ensuring the country's food security, agriculture is an important branch of the Polish economy, and the share of agriculture in GDP in 2023 was 3.3%4. By choosing products from Polish producers and farmers, we not only support the domestic market, but also protect the environment – shorter transport of products reduces the carbon footprint.
Lidl Polska, whenever possible, focuses on cooperation with Polish suppliers. This cooperation gives them many development opportunities, but it is also important to meet the chain's high quality requirements. For example, a fruit and vegetable producer in Poland who would like to work with Lidl Polska should meet the basic conditions of cooperation, such as a guarantee of having GLOBAL GAP and GRASP certificates. The chain is a socially responsible company that operates according to the CSR strategy for 2020-2025. Therefore, it expects its suppliers to also use pro-ecological solutions.
– Thanks to our openness to innovative product concepts, we shape the future and create trends together. In order to start cooperation with Lidl Polska, we underwent a number of audits concerning, among others, ethical standards, occupational health and safety, and environmental issues. Product certification is extremely important in this cooperation. Our goal is to offer products that provide a full guarantee of quality and are fished responsibly, taking care of the seas and oceans. We also strive to reduce the use of plastic – among others, by introducing 100% recyclable packaging. We also manage energy more effectively to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Together with Lidl Polska, we are building a common vision and mission, in which ecology and care for the natural environment are very important. Lidl is a motivator for us to introduce changes in terms of CSR – primarily counteracting climate change and striving towards sustainable development – says Mateusz Nowicki, Senior Business Development Manager at ABRAMCZYK Sp. z oo
– Cooperation with Lidl Polska guarantees a large sales volume and was a natural step in the development of the company and achieving economies of scale. The beginning of this cooperation entailed investments – adjustment of storage, packaging and meeting specific requirements for the delivered goods. We invest a lot in terms of cooperation with Lidl Polska – for example, we have launched a high-bay warehouse and we are developing our logistics facilities to deliver products abroad. Thanks to this partnership and investments, we are more competitive on the market. Our goal is to continue this development – by selling more products, acquiring new competences to increase the quality of goods and meeting pro-environmental goals – comments Sebastian Lau, President of the Management Board of PR Łosoś.
Export of domestic products abroad
Polish products are also popular abroad. The share of agri-food products in total exports from Poland in 2022 amounted to approx. 14%5. Lidl Polska also provides Polish suppliers with extensive development opportunities on foreign markets. In 2023, the value of exports of Polish products, thanks to the Lidl Polska sales network, amounted to over PLN 6.45 billion. Moreover, over the last 6 years, the network has exported domestic products abroad worth over PLN 25 billion, which contributed to the significant development of domestic enterprises.
– Through organic growth and acquisitions, we are currently one of the largest and most modern Polish fruit producer organizations, with 175 shareholders. Our success has also been positively influenced by our 13-year cooperation with Lidl Polska, which gives us a sense of security. Lidl is our key client, thanks to whom we can invest. Thanks to this cooperation, our products are also offered on foreign markets – in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania. We believe that our further cooperation will constantly develop, thanks to which we will constantly meet the high expectations of our customers – comments Hubert Woźniak, vice-president of the Sady Grójeckie Association and president of the Rajpol Producers Organization.
What does cooperation with the network look like?
In September, participants and exhibitors at the POLAGRA trade fair in Poznań will be able to see for themselves what cooperation with Lidl Polska looks like. The chain has become the main partner of the event and one of the key exhibitors. Thanks to the presence of Lidl Polska representatives, exhibitors and guests will learn about the practical side of cooperation with regional suppliers, the issue of ecological investments, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.
