Ahold Delhaize USA Teams Up with Kellanova and Bartlett to Cut Wheat Farming Emissions
Ahold Delhaize USA, a prominent grocery retail group, has partnered with global snacking leader Kellanova (formerly Kellogg Company) and North American agribusiness Bartlett to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wheat farming. This initiative aims to decrease these emissions and enhance farm and supply chain resiliency.
Pilot Program Launch
The pilot program, set to commence this summer, involves financial investments from Ahold Delhaize USA, Kellanova, and Bartlett. These funds will support the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices among wheat farmers in North Carolina. The wheat produced will be used alongside conventional wheat to create Kellanova’s iconic Cheez-It® and Club® crackers, which will be available in Ahold Delhaize USA’s local brand stores by 2025.
Commitment to Sustainability
JJ Fleeman, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA, stated, “The companies of Ahold Delhaize USA are committed to offering more sustainable food products as we strive to create a healthier planet. An important step in this journey is reducing Scope 3 carbon emissions, which requires partnerships like this one with Kellanova and Bartlett. We’re excited to be a part of this collaboration as we focus on our Scope 3 commitments.”
Collaborative Effort
This program is unique, involving stakeholders from the entire supply chain—field, mill, manufacturing facility, and shelf—working together to improve the livelihood of U.S. farmers while reducing GHG emissions. It is a pioneering effort for both Ahold Delhaize USA and Kellanova.
Carrie Sander, Chief Customer Officer – North America, Kellanova, added, “As part of our ambitious Kellanova Better Days Promise, we’ve committed to both reducing our emissions and advancing the well-being of people, including farmers, across our food value chain. We believe in the power of partnership and are excited to collaborate with Ahold Delhaize USA and Bartlett to help potentially improve outcomes for wheat farmers. This innovative program helps us simultaneously work toward both these goals.”
From Farm to Shelf
Regenerative agriculture, focusing on soil conservation and improvement, is tailored to the specific crop, climate, and land. Here’s how the process works:
- Farming: Farmers in Eastern North Carolina grow regenerative wheat. Bartlett’s certified crop advisors assist them in implementing conservation practices to improve soil health, water quality, and reduce emissions.
- Milling: Bartlett combines regenerative wheat with conventional wheat and mills it into flour at its expanded facility in Wilson’s Mills, N.C.
- Baking: Kellanova bakes the wheat into Cheez-It® and Club® crackers at its state-of-the-art facility in Cary, N.C.
- Retail: Ahold Delhaize USA brands will sell the crackers in over 2,000 local stores beginning in 2025.
Bob Knief, President of Bartlett, stated, “We’re excited to work with our customers and partners to improve on-farm environmental outcomes while increasing overall sustainability across the milling and baking supply chain. We have a strong commitment to continuous improvement and look forward to engaging with and supporting North Carolina wheat farmers in measuring and optimizing their sustainability performance.”
Agronomic Insights
In addition to regenerative wheat, the program will yield agronomic insights on farm and supply chain resiliency. Arva Intelligence will use their CropForce™ platform to measure, report, and verify the impacts on partners’ emissions reductions, providing scalable knowledge for future Scope 3 initiatives.
Marc Stolzman, Chief Sustainability Officer for Ahold Delhaize USA, emphasized, “Ninety-five percent of Ahold Delhaize USA emissions reside in Scope 3, which makes this program incredibly important. Not only will this help us on our race to Net Zero, but the data will help us to chart our future path for Scope 3 collaborations.”
Program Goals and Timeline
The pilot focuses on farmers already practicing regenerative agriculture, creating a base of experienced farmers to help teach new ones and facilitate the transition. Production begins this summer, with products expected on Ahold Delhaize USA brand shelves in 2025, and pilot insights to follow soon after.
