GIY & SuperValu Let’s GROW: The Power of Corporate Partnership

ABOUT GIY

GIY (Grow It Yourself), a non-profit & social enterprise, supports people around the world to live healthier, happier and more sustainable lives by growing some of their own food. Our mission is to educate and enable a global movement of food growers whose collective actions will help to rebuild a sustainable food system. GIY has supported over 6 million people to grow their own food since 2009, through our three pillar activities: 

• Inspire: People to grow, cook and eat healthy, sustainable food through engaging TV and media projects 

• Engage: People through partnership programmes that support people to grow at home, school, work & in the community. 

• Support: People to grow more confidently by delivering best-in-class educational content and mentoring 

GIY CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP

In partnership with SuperValu, GIY empower young people to grow their own food in classrooms across Ireland through SuperValu Let’s GROW, fostering a deeper connection to what they eat while promoting sustainability and healthy habits.  Since its inception in 2022, SuperValu Let’s GROW has provided 170,000 primary school children with the tools, resources, and knowledge to start growing their own food at school. This year’s program, running from March to June 2025, will distribute 2,100 classroom kits packed with seeds, compostable pots, and expert GIY booklets for teachers, ensuring hands-on learning for young growers. The initiative engages students and their families in a three-stage journey—GROW, COOK, and EAT—allowing them to nurture their vegetables at school, try out recipes at home, and develop an appreciation for fresh food. 

National market research undertaken under the partnership reported that one-third of Irish families grow some food at home and, significantly, 9 out of 10 parents felt that children learning to grow food at school is important and would play an important role in making healthier food choices.  GIY’s own research shows that those who grow their own food develop “food empathy,” making them more likely to eat locally, seasonally, and nutritiously. The impact of the programme in embedding food growing & education at school is evident in past winners like Nagle Rice National School, where students incorporated their homegrown ingredients into daily meals, transforming their school environment with a thriving garden.

GIY have worked in partnership across Ireland and the UK with leading brands such as innocent, Accenture, Energia, AIB, CIE– and engaged over ¼ M children through our school programmes over the last 10 years. Key lessons from this corporate/non-profit partnership emphasize the power of hands-on engagement, making food education accessible to all, while reinforcing SuperValu’s role as a community-focused retailer. The collaboration highlights how corporate partnerships can drive meaningful social as well as environmental impact; engaging schools as a cornerstone of every community, inspiring children and their families to make healthier, more sustainable food choices at home. 

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Last year’s SuperValu Let’s GROW winning school: