Discounter Lidl GB becomes the first retailer to integrate Neighbourly Pulse hyper-local giving solution

Neighbourly has launched a new tool, Pulse, with Lidl GB as the first retailer to use it.

Pulse is designed to help organisations understand hyper-local community need, plan meaningful interventions and, where appropriate, evidence delivery as part of public sector procurement. Lidl GB is using it to help better understand local community need and inform how it directs support through its partnership with Neighbourly.

Developed with the UK’s Procurement Act 2023 in mind, Pulse allows users to analyse deprivation and community need data, identify where support is most needed and connect directly with charities and good causes to deliver activity in the communities where it will have the greatest impact.

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, says: “Pulse marks a real step forward for Neighbourly. As procurement and planning expectations evolve, organisations need to demonstrate not just that they want to do good, but that they’re doing it in an informed, considered and authentic way that meets community needs and stands up to scrutiny. Pulse gives them the insight and practical routes to deliver meaningful impact that’s both credible and efficient.”

Georgina Hall, Director of Corporate Affairs at Lidl GB, says: "We’ve always been committed to ensuring that our support reaches the heart of the communities we serve. Being the first retailer to integrate Neighbourly’s Pulse tool is a significant step forward in making our social impact as targeted and effective as possible. By leveraging hyper-local data, we can move beyond broad commitments to deliver precision-led support directly to the areas that need it most."

Since 2016, Lidl GB has donated 50 million meals by redistributing surplus food through its Feed it Back scheme, delivered in partnership with Neighbourly. The new tool will allow it to build on this, targeting the regions that need it most.

The platform has been designed for procurement and planning teams, social value managers and bid directors who are under increasing pressure to ensure their social impact is genuinely rooted in local need. By overlaying Neighbourly’s network of vetted local charities and community groups onto deprivation data, companies can show not just what they intend to do, but how they will deliver it.

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards

Ethical retail will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

Check out our 2025 winners here.

Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”

“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”

He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”

Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.