Kesko to electrify its grocery trade logistics through an investment of nearly €10 million
Kesko plans to gradually increase the number of electric vehicles used for transport and deliveries in its grocery trade business to some 200 EVs by 2030. EV charging points for heavy vehicles will be built in all Kesko’s grocery trade logistics centres within the next few years. Kesko expects EV transports to reduce emissions significantly while improving efficiency. The total investment will amount to nearly €10 million.
”Kesko’s grocery trade logistics centres send out some 700 loads across the country every day. As a large Finnish operator, we want to pave the way for more extensive utilisation of electric trucks. This is also an important step in our journey to reduce emissions, as transports account for some half the climate impact from our own operations,” says Jyrki Tomminen, Vice President for Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Store Operations in Kesko’s grocery trade division.
In addition to the central warehouse in Vantaa, Kesko has regional logistics terminals across the country, which handle deliveries to some 1,200 grocery stores and thousands of Kespro foodservice customers. This year, Kesko intends to update EV charging points in the Vantaa central warehouse, and to build new charging points in the regional terminals in Tampere and Seinäjoki.
”With the new charging points, we will be able to begin regular transports with electric trucks this year on the Vantaa-Tampere route. Electric trucks and vans will also be introduced for short-distance deliveries in Southern Finland and the Tampere and Seinäjoki regions. The plan is to gradually expand the number of electric trucks and vans in our subcontractor network, with the goal of having some 200 transport EVs operating by 2030,” says Jarmo Nikupeteri, Production Director in charge of Kesko’s grocery transports in Finland.
Next year, electric trucks will operate various key routes
According to Kesko’s plans, electric trucks will begin operating the Vantaa-Turku and Tampere-Turku routes next year. For short-distance deliveries, new electric trucks will be introduced in Oulu, Turku, Mikkeli and Jyväskylä. New EV charging points for heavy vehicles will be built in the Oulu, Turku, Mikkeli and Jyväskylä terminals, while the Kuopio terminal is set to get one in 2026.
Kesko also aims to increase the use of electric vehicles in home deliveries for online grocery in upcoming years.
”Kesko’s own K-Lataus will provide the new charging points for all locations. Entirely new charging points will be built in stores with a high level of online grocery activity, so that we can assure both our customers and vehicles delivering online orders will have sufficient access to charging,” says Iiro Määttänen, Senior Manager in charge of K-Lataus.
The electricity used for EV charging on Kesko properties is free of carbon dioxide emissions.
Kesko has set science-based reduction targets for its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, aiming to cut the emissions by 90% by the end of 2030 compared to the 2020 base level.
Further information:
K Group media desk, tel. +358 105 350 200, viestinta@kesko.fi
Kesko and K-retailers together form K Group, whose retail sales total around €16 billion. K Group is the leading trading sector operator in Northern Europe and it employs approximately 45,000 people. Kesko operates in grocery trade, building and technical trade, and car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko's net sales total around €12 billion and Kesko employs approximately 18,000 people. Kesko’s chain operations include approximately 1,800 stores in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Kesko’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company's domicile and main premises are in Helsinki. www.kesko.fi
