When companies and social enterprises develop long-term partnerships, they generate additional value for consumers, employees and the wider community. The collaboration between Anđeli and Delhaize Serbia is an example of how business objectives can go hand in hand with social and environmental contributions. 

Anđeli is a social enterprise that develops and produces healthy oat cookies and energy bars, free from sugar, flour, additives and preservatives. At the same time, through its business activities, it creates employment opportunities for women facing barriers to employment and continuously promotes healthier eating habits and greater access to healthier food products. 

The partnership with Delhaize Serbia began in 2017, when Anđeli products were introduced in several Maxi stores. Since then, the partnership has grown, and these products are now available at more than 400 points of sale across Serbia. This has given Anđeli access to a wider consumer base and greater opportunities to develop its business, while bringing the social enterprise’s quality products into the offering of a major retail chain. 

The collaboration also includes more responsible management of surplus food. More than 300,000 Anđeli products reach consumers every year, while 8–10% of products approaching their expiry date are donated to the Food Bank. In this way, products remain usable for longer, the amount of food ending up as waste is reduced, and support reaches those who need it most. 

Impact achieved 

  • Supporting the employment and retention of jobs for women facing barriers to employment 
  • More responsible management of surplus food and reduced food waste 
  • Greater access to food for people most in need of support 
  • Greater availability of healthier products and promotion of healthier food choices 

This partnership demonstrates how collaboration between companies and social enterprises can simultaneously contribute to business development, create and sustain jobs for people facing barriers to employment, and help address broader social and environmental goals. 

The “Buy Social” campaign promotes collaboration between companies and impact-driven enterprises and is part of the project “Resilient Communities: Nurturing Social Enterprises for Local Development” implemented by Smart Kolektiv in partnership with Evrokontakt Kruševac and the Kolping Society of Serbia, with the financial support of the European Union. Buy Social Europe B2B is a transnational initiative that empowers social and mainstream enterprises to connect and build sustainable trade partnerships. The initiative unites 23 partners from 17 countries, including Smart Kolektiv. 

 The content of this text does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.