Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
“At Ahold Delhaize we are open for everyone. We aim to be 100% reflective of the communities we serve, have 100% gender balance at all levels and be 100% inclusive, which means together we create a place where our associates feel at home and can truly be who they are.
We are a people business, and without our dedicated teams around the world, we would not be where we are today. I truly believe that we’re stronger together, and stronger in our diversity as well. What I’ve noticed is that when our associates are engaged and feel their contributions are valued, it’s reflected in our stores and the experience of our customers.
No matter your background, your story, who you love or what you wear — we are open for you. We may not always get it right, but I’m proud we commit to ourselves and one another every day to make it better. Because we know this makes the difference for the wellbeing of our associates and communities.”
Frans Muller - CEO, Ahold Delhaize
We aspire to have 100% gender balance at all levels, be 100% representative of the communities our brands serve, and be 100% inclusive.
We make a positive impact in our communities that extends beyond our walls. Our voices are heard and valued, and we have equal opportunities to grow. Together, we create a culture of belonging where everyone can flourish.
We rely upon on our values of care, courage, teamwork, integrity and humor to lead us as we cultivate a diverse and inclusive culture and make good decisions every day.
Find out more about our DE&I ambition in our Annual Report.
To achieve 100% gender balance, we implement strategies such as creating balanced slates during hiring processes and succession planning to ensure diverse candidate pools. We provide individual development plans (IDPs) and clearly defined career paths to support the advancement of all associates. Transparent talent plans are in place to provide equal access to growth opportunities, and we foster mentorship and sponsorship programs to empower underrepresented associates to thrive and excel within our organization.
We actively promote supplier diversity, ensuring our supply chain reflects the diversity of the communities our brands serve. Additionally, community service is a fundamental part of our approach, supporting initiatives that address societal challenges and promote inclusivity.
Through external partnerships, we collaborate with organizations that share our commitment to diversity and inclusion, fostering inclusive practices and learning from best practices. We promote Business Resource Groups within our brands to activate collaboration and generate new ideas across internal employee groups that represent the diverse communities we serve.
At Ahold Delhaize, we believe that fostering an inclusive work environment is not only an important responsibility but also a key driver of our ability to innovate and succeed. We prioritize creating a psychologically safe work environment where all associates feel comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions. We are dedicated to achieving pay equity, ensuring that every associate is fairly compensated based on their contributions and skills. We adapt our talent practices, such as hiring and performance management, to reduce bias. And we are committed to listening and planning together, incorporating associate feedback into an ever-evolving culture that fosters belonging.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion is deeply woven in how I live and lead. I strive to lead my store with an open mind, hiring and promoting diverse, qualified associates. This has made me a stronger leader as I focus on ensuring my store reflects the towns and cities we serve. At Food Lion, I feel like I found my family from day one, and, 30 years later, I feel even stronger about finding a place of belonging. As an openly gay leader at Food Lion, my workplace allows me to be myself and not pretend to be someone else. Food Lion leadership and my fellow associates make me feel comfortable in being who I am so that I'm able to bring my whole self to work without fear of being judged.”
Kelvin Grant
Store Manager, Food Lion
Maryland, USA
Some examples of the awards and recognitions received by our great local brands.
Ahold Delhaize U.S. brands Stop & Shop, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Food Lion receive 'Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion' by Human Rights Campaign Foundation
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The Shelby Report grants Emerging Leaders awards to Ahold Delhaize U.S. brands ADUSA Procurement, PDL and RBS (all three are now consolidated within Ahold Delhaize USA), the GIANT Company and Food Lion
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Progressive Grocer’s Impact Award honored Ahold Delhaize U.S. brands Food Lion, RBS (now consolidated within Ahold Delhaize USA) and Giant Food along with the Top Women In Grocery Award received by women leaders from multiple brands
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European brands Alfa Beta, Delhaize Serbia and Mega Image have been certified as top employers in their markets by the Top Employers Institute
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More than 50 BRGs
. . . and counting!
We promote Business Resource Groups (BRGs) at Ahold Delhaize: voluntary, associate-led groups that serve as a valuable resource for both members and our businesses. BRGs foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with our mission, values, goals, business practices and objectives. We value and empower this continuous channel of collaboration between our organization and associates and we actively engage in insightful discussions to ensure we are listening to and serving our brands’ communities in a relevant and respectful way. Associates who want to engage with a BRG can choose from a myriad of groups empowering women, veterans, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, young people, and much more.
Ahold Delhaize, and each of its brands, recognize and support the right of every individual to receive equitable compensation for their work. In our Annual Report 2023 we disclosed a gender pay difference study based on 2023 gender pay difference figures.
We are proud of the progress we have made compared to our 2022 gender pay difference figures and will continue to perform pay equity studies for equal work.
Learn more about Ahold Delhaize's pay equity practices in our 2023 Annual Report
In 2024, Peapod Digital Labs (now consolidated within Ahold Delhaize USA) is planning to refresh P4 Incubator Program for a Q1 2025 launch, which proved to be successful within the previous rollout. In 2022, the brand hosted this two-and-a-half-month-long initiative aimed at developing new own-brand products in collaboration with certified diverse-owned suppliers. The program provided participants with valuable mentorship, behind-the-scenes insights and tools to help them create exceptional quality products that stand out in the market. This Incubator Program enabled the company to foster innovation, support entrepreneurship and strengthen partnerships with diverse suppliers, ultimately enhancing their own-brand offerings and driving mutual success.
Our Code of Ethics supports a strong policy and guidance framework, which is essential to successfully incorporate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights across Ahold Delhaize and each of its brands.
Our ambitions on diversity, equity and inclusion help us address several of Ahold Delhaize’s salient human rights issues.
Human rights
