Geneva makes free grocery delivery service for older residents permanent

Geneva is turning a successful trial into a permanent service. The city will continue free weekly grocery deliveries for residents aged 65 and over, and extend access to people who receive a care allowance. The Department for Social Cohesion and Solidarity announced the decision on Monday, October 26, following the pilot launched in summer 2025.

The service is designed to make everyday shopping easier while supporting independence, mobility and social connections. Its permanent status means eligible residents can keep using the delivery service beyond the trial period. Geneva is also widening the group it serves, bringing care allowance recipients into the eligibility pool alongside older residents.

The pilot averaged 260 deliveries a month. Geneva currently counts 300 beneficiaries, with an average age of 79. The city cited the trial’s positive results as the basis for making the service permanent.

Those figures describe a service used regularly by residents who may find grocery shopping difficult. The weekly delivery brings purchases to people’s homes, while the expanded eligibility rules also cover people receiving a care allowance. The city says the initiative aims to promote independence and mobility, as well as social connections. It will continue to offer a practical way to get groceries without requiring beneficiaries to carry their shopping home themselves.

Genèveroule delivers the groceries by electric bicycle. Beneficiaries can order from food markets and Migros supermarkets located within the city. The service operates from Monday to Saturday, giving users access to deliveries on six days of the week.

Each order is limited to two bags, with a combined maximum weight of 20 kilos. The arrangement connects local shopping options with a home delivery service run by the Genèveroule association. For beneficiaries, it means purchases from city markets and supermarkets can be brought directly to their homes, with the delivery itself free of charge.

The permanent service keeps its focus on easier shopping and greater independence. Geneva’s Department for Social Cohesion and Solidarity says the initiative is intended to support mobility and social connections as well as help people manage everyday purchases. Residents aged 65 and over remain eligible, and the city is adding people who receive a care allowance.

With deliveries available Monday to Saturday, the service links beneficiaries to food markets and Migros supermarkets across Geneva. Genèveroule’s electric bicycle deliveries are capped at two bags weighing up to 20 kilos. The city’s decision secures the service beyond its summer 2025 pilot and expands who can benefit from it.