Delhaize is introducing summer cooking camps for children aged 2 to 12, running throughout the 2026 summer holidays.
The camps will take place in at least one location per province — ten camps total — with capacity for 10 to 20 children per session. Operated in partnership with aKadeemi in Flanders and CFS in Wallonia, the week-long programs will teach children to taste, chop, cook and plate dishes through hands-on instruction. Each camp week concludes with a showcase event where young participants present their creations to family members.
The initiative extends Delhaize's Kleine Leeuw (Little Lion) budget-friendly private label line — which comprises over 1,200 everyday products — into an experiential offering. Priced between EUR 165 and EUR 195 per child, with a 30% discount for loyalty card holders, the camps aim to make cooking education accessible and demonstrate that enjoyable meals don't need to be complex or expensive. The recipes children learn are designed to be replicated at home, transforming the camp experience into ongoing family moments in the kitchen.
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As parents navigate hectic schedules, stretched household budgets and concerns about ultra-processed foods, cooking education offers a convergence point. Delhaize isn't positioning these camps as nutrition intervention or aspirational culinary training — framing them instead as confidence-building activities that can also result in quality family time. This approach reflects a shift away from moralistic food messaging toward pragmatic skill development. Teaching children (or adults!) to cook is less about recipes and more about agency — helping more people gain the satisfaction of creating something tangible that others can enjoy.
