Climate activists hijack Delhaize shareholder meeting, trade union activists call CEO ‘pocket filler’ | Interior

Before the start of the meeting, Belgian trade union activists shouted at the entrance of the conference room in Zaandam, the Netherlands, that CEO Muller is “a pickpocket”. Yet it was probably the many Dutch climate activists in the room who most impressed the Dutch CEO.

The activists had bought shares and were able to hijack the meeting that way. Whenever they had the chance to ask questions, other activists stood up and launched similar arguments and questions about climate, sustainability and waste. The trade unions in Belgium had not thought about this or thought about it too late.

Muller, who had already paid attention to the climate in his foreword, remained calm under the constant fire of questions, even when shareholders became somewhat impatient. He said he had “sympathy” for the arguments, but that did not convince climate activists. They want Ahold Delhaize to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2019. The company itself aims at 37 percent by 2030 compared to 2020, which Muller says is scientifically sound and “extremely ambitious”.

In the end, the Swedish chairman of Ahold Delhaize, Peter Agnefjäll, closed the first round of questions without all questioners having had the opportunity to speak. When questions were again allowed to be asked about specific agenda items, activists again came up with the same questions about the climate goals.

The chairman interrupted them politely and almost begged them to stop, but he could not prevent the activists from allowing the meeting and voting on the agenda items to run over. The atmosphere gradually became a bit grim, but it didn’t get out of hand. The activists collectively left shortly before the end of the meeting.

Delhaize’s plans to transfer 128 stores to self-employed persons and the social unrest that this will cause were ultimately not discussed during the meeting, despite the cheering at the door. After the meeting, which ended just before 7 pm instead of 4.30 pm as planned, the Belgian trade unionists had long since left.