15th September 2026: ALDI Ireland has today announced the return of its annual Trolley Token charity campaign in partnership with Barnardos Ireland – it’s as easy as ABC. As families settle back into the school routine, ALDI is proud to continue its ongoing work with Barnardos and is inviting shoppers to help raise vital funds for vulnerable families across the country.
Available to purchase at all 167 ALDI stores nationwide, every cent raised from the sale of the €2 Trolley Tokens goes directly to Barnardos, Ireland’s children’s charity – because childhood lasts a lifetime. These funds support the charity’s essential work with families in need across Ireland. Building on the success of last year’s fundraiser, which raised more than €31,000, adding a small donation at the till can be a simple and manageable way to give back for those customers who wish to get involved. ALDI Ireland customers can also choose to donate their Re-turn deposit cans and bottles in stores nationwide to support children in Ireland who need it most. This continued support can make a real difference in local communities across Ireland.
To date, funds raised through the ALDI partnership have provided more than:
- 20,000 hot meals, healthy breakfasts, and nutritious snacks for children attending Barnardos 56 services across Ireland.
- 2,000 children with the targeted support they need to be school-ready.
- 200 families with specialised, intensive counselling.
Research commissioned by ALDI in August 2026* highlighted strong public support for children’s charities (58%), reinforcing ALDI’s long-term commitment to Barnardos and its shoppers. Recent research from Barnardos highlighted the ongoing pressure facing families. Barnardos research showed that one in five parents have been forced to cut back on, or go without, food this year due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
John Curtin, Head of Commercial, ALDI Ireland, said: “Supporting families in our local communities is an initiative we’re incredibly proud of. By simply picking up a €2 Trolley Token at the till, our customers are directly funding vital support for parents and children across Ireland. Every token bought supports helping to fund a warm meal, a safe space, or essential school supplies for those who need it most. In our sixth year of working with Barnardos, we admire the great work they do and it’s something we look forward to supporting for many years to come.”
Philip Watt, Interim CEO of Barnardos Ireland, added: “ALDI has been a steadfast partner of Barnardos for a number of years now and the €2 Trolley Token is just one example of their ongoing support. Back-to-school is such an important time of year for families. The funds raised through this ALDI campaign are an absolute lifeline for the communities we serve. They allow our frontline teams to provide vital support directly to the children and parents who are bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis. When people buy a Trolley Token, they aren’t just making a donation, they’re supporting families in need.”
A History of Impact
Since ALDI Ireland and Barnardos established their partnership in 2020, ALDI customers and colleagues have raised more than €2 million for the charity and ALDI has committed to raising an additional €1 million over the next two years. This significant contribution supports Barnardos’ Early Years and Family Support Services, directly assisting thousands of families across Ireland.
ALDI’s €2 Trolley Tokens for Barnardos are available at all tills nationwide from 14th September while stocks last.
Getting Behind Good Things. It’s Not Complicated.
ENDS
*ALDI Research was conducted by Bounce Insights with a nationally representative sample of more than 1,000 survey respondents. Research was conducted in August 2026.
Barnardos Research was conducted by Amárach Research with a nationally representative sample in May 2026 – Barnardos-Cost-of-Living-Report-2026.pdf
