Unique rail collaboration to secure the food industry’s supply chain

ICA will use the Volvo Group’s freight train to transport goods. Normally, south-bound trains operated by Green Cargo transport Volvo’s freight from Sweden to the factory in the Belgian city of Gent. For the last six years, the Swedish logistics company Scanlog has used north-bound trains to transport cargo such as food for ICA, however, the train has not run since Volvo’s truck factory in Gent closed. ICA and Volvo, in a partnership with Scanlog and Green Cargo, will now put the train back into service even though there is currently no freight to ship south.

The collaboration, which starts during Easter week, means that two 19-wagon trains will ship the equivalent of 80 truckloads of goods from Gent to ICA’s warehouses each week. This reduces the risk of shortages related to the current uncertain conditions surrounding the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe and potential driver shortages due to illness.

Green Cargo and Scanlog are the two logistics companies involved in the collaboration and managing the transportation.

“I’m proud of how quickly we could work together and find a solution to ensure that important goods reach their recipients both nationally and internationally, even in the era of Corona. Rail is a key societal function even in normal conditions, and the situation right now really highlights how important continued rail shipments are for all goods and industrial supply chains all over Europe,” says Ted Söderholm, CEO of Green Cargo.

“Sweden is relying on continued transportation from Europe. Reduced export flows reduce the accessibility of truck capacity for north-bound freight. More and more ferries are being cancelled, which means that road freight needs to take land routes and pass through several borders. Being able to ensure the transportation of a large quantity of groceries by rail is both gratifying and rather important,” says Mattias Ljungberg, CEO of Scanlog.

Photo: Scanlog

Scandinavian Logistics Partners AB är ett svenskägt logistikföretag specialiserat på internationella transporter på järnväg, sjö, bil och flyg. Vi brinner för Responsible Logistics - en ansvarsfull logistik fokuserad på kostnadseffektivitet, minskad miljöpåverkan och hög kvalitet. Scanlog har ett fyrtiotal medarbetare på fyra kontor i Sverige, omsätter ca 400 mkr och blev av Dagens Industri utnämnt till Gasellföretag 2017, 2018 och 2019. Scanlog är miljö- och kvalitetscertifierade enligt ISO. www.scanlog.se