Commerce for Ukraine

Ahold Delhaize will donate EUR 1 million to the Red Cross to provide humanitarian relief on the ground in Ukraine and in neighboring countries to support people fleeing the escalating violence. Additionally, our local brands in Romania and the Czech Republic are offering emergency aid and assistance on the ground, by providing food and products to refugee centers, financial contributions and in-kind support to local charities, and support to associate and customer initiatives to help Ukrainian civilians.

Aldi Nord heard the call for help from Caritas Essen in Germany and donated 25 trucks of baby food for the Ukraine.

Amazon is donating directly to organisations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross, as well as matching donations from employees. Amazon has also launched a new humanitarian aid hub in Slovakia to help relief organizations provide faster support to Ukrainian refugees.

Spanish supermarkets are supporting Ukrainian people with donation campaigns in collaboration with several NGOs. Here a list of some of the actions taken by ASEDAS’ members.

German Import Promotion Desk expands engagement in Ukraine.
The German Import Promotion Desk (IPD) is expanding its engagement in Ukraine by supporting additional Ukrainian producers under a special programme financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to place export-ready companies with European buyers. This takes place during virtual matchmaking events and B2B meetings at international trade fairs such as BIOFACH, SIAL or Fi Food Ingredients Europe or directly on request and is organised by the IPD team.

Carrefour is helping Ukrainian refugees through cash donations and collections with European Food Banks. In addition, Carrefour gives financial support to NGOs in Poland and Romania.

Various group companies of MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group have supported the people of Ukraine by various means. For instance, the MediaMarktSaturn Poland has provided significant donations both in financial terms as well as in-kind donations of electronic equipment. Moreover, in Germany a broad-based Ukraine donation campaign of various retailers is supported via the stores of MediaMarktSaturn Germany (e.g. in-store TV). Such donations will be used for medical supplies. This is done in cooperation with the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein.

Esselunga promptly took action to support the Ukrainian population through a series of initiatives: a fundraising in collaboration with the Italian Red Cross which had led to the donation of more than 2.6 million euros, the shipment of foodstuffs and basic necessities to Ukraine through its own trucks or in collaboration with local entities. Moreover, Esselunga contributed to many food collections granted to non-profit organizations.

To support the Ukrainian Euronics member Foxtrot – Euronics GEIE will donate almost 700,000 Euros on top of the individual contributions and support its members have been providing to Foxtrot. This donation will be provided to Giro 555, a group of aid organisations that help Ukrainians with shelter, sanitation, clean drinking water, food and medical aid.

The German Ukrainian Digital Partnership connects decision-makers from the business environment (including retailers) and economic institutions in Germany with the ICT industry in Ukraine and is now helping Ukrainians find jobs when they have to relocate to the European Union.

In a joint effort, the Jeronimo Martins Group, Biedronka, the Biedronka Foundation and Sociedade Francisco Manuel dos Santos, have donated over EUR 10 million (approximately PLN 46 million) to help refugees from Ukraine.
PLN 5 million – in-kind donations by Biedronka to aid organisations working in the field
PLN 5 million – by the Biedronka Foundation for prepaid cards and shopping vouchers for refugees for Biedronka stores
EUR 5 million (approximately PLN 24 million) – transferred by the Jerónimo Martins’ holding company to organisations actively supporting refugees
EUR 2.5 million (approximately PLN 12 million) – donation by SFMS to the Biedronka Foundation for free temporary accommodation for refugees

Retailers and wholesalers in Finland are providing support to the people of Ukraine in various ways. For example, the S Group’s regional cooperative stores have donated a total of nearly €300,000 of start-up capital for fundraising, which customers are invited to join in. The K-Retailers’ Association has donated €100,000 through the Disaster Relief Fund of the Finnish Red Cross and UNICEF Ukraine. Finlayson has donated €100,000 through the Finnish Red Cross. The Finnish Commerce Federation and its member associations have also made a donation for Ukraine’s children.

Kingfisher has donated to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal and to the UN Refugee Agency, UK for UNHCR, to support the relief efforts in Ukraine. In addition, their teams in Poland and Romania, under the Castorama and Brico Depot banners, have quickly offered their support fundraising and donating products such as beds, nappies, torches and personal hygiene. Castorama Poland is providing power generators, chargers and torches, while colleagues from local stores are volunteering to help refugees at the border. Support is being provided to colleagues who have taken refugees into their homes.

In Poland, retail chains associated with POHiD have so far transferred over PLN 40 million to help Ukrainian citizens. Support at the level of foreign headquarters has already exceeded nearly EUR 70 million.

Since the end of February, Primark has donated £250,000 to global partner UNICEF’s emergency appeal to help scale up life-saving support for children and their families with safe water, hygiene supplies, healthcare and psycho-social support; €10,000 worth of essential products from Primark stores in Poland and Czech Republic to support refugees in these bordering countries; and an initial 2,500 clothing care packs for refugees arriving at Dublin Airport, in partnership with the Irish Department of Justice and Dublin Airport, with Primark colleagues volunteering their time to support these efforts.

The REWE Group and its companies help refugees from the Ukraine. When the first refugees from Ukraine arrive in Cologne, aid packages with food donated by REWE will be available for them. PENNY also donated food for the numerous helpers who look after the people from Ukraine. The logistics are supported by toom Baumarkt and REWE Group logistics, which provide storage material, pallet trucks and trolleys, among other things.

Schwarz Group donates through Lidl and Kaufland essential items worth 10.000.000 EUR to help refugees in areas near the Ukrainian border.

Many of the members of the Czech Confederation of Commerce and Tourism will pay Ukrainian employees at least 50% of wages for up to 3 months if they are conscripted to fight. All those who have left to support their country are guaranteed a job upon their return.

The SPAR Austria Group supports the Ukrainian population in several ways: Relief deliveries of goods for the Ukrainian population as well as for refugee camps were carried out via the wholesale warehouse in St. Pölten as well as via the SPAR Austria Group in Hungary. In order to maintain a local supply for the Ukrainian population, a considerable amount was transferred to the SPAR organization in Ukraine. (SPAR Ukraine is an independent company that does not belong to the SPAR Austria Group). In addition, a considerable amount was transferred to the large aid organizations for the care and provision of refugees from Ukraine arriving in Austria.
A cooperation with the Public Employment Service has also been started in order to employ refugees from Ukraine who are willing to work in our country.

The Tesco Group has already taken initial steps and donated last week alone GBP 1 million to the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Food, hygiene products and clothing left depots in aid for refugees in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Carrefour Romania donates over 270 tons of products to the Romanian Red Cross and FARA Foundation for Ukrainian refugees.