Lidl has announced plans to introduce a new digital micro-donation system across its UK stores in February.

The company’s new system, called Pennies, enables shoppers to donate up to 30p per transaction at the card readers.

The budget supermarket said that micro-donations could inject £1 billion into the UK charity sector if every UK cardholder contributed 35p a week.

The move follows a successful regional trial, with the technology being rolled out at the end of January.

All stores will have the technology in place by mid-February until the middle of March.

The scheme forms part of Lidl’s fundraising efforts for the NSPCC, having recently extended its partnership with the charity by five years.

The discounter aims to raise £5 million by 2030 to support the NSPCC’s vital Childline service.

The Pennies initiative will be available in stores for the six-week duration of a fundraising campaign and complements the existing in-store cash donation tins, further encouraging customers to support the cause.

"Thanks to the incredible generosity of our colleagues and customers, we’ve managed to raise an astonishing £10 million for the NSPCC to date, but we want that figure to keep growing," said Ryan McDonnell, chief executive, Lidl GB. "So, by bringing Pennies into our stores, we’re offering our customers a simple way to contribute to causes that matter, turning small donations into a significant collective impact.”

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