Axfood partners with Scania in transitioning to sustainable transport

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Dagab, which handles assortment, purchasing and logistics for Sweden’s second largest food retail group Axfood, has formed a far-reaching collaboration with Scania in electrification.

Scania will provide advisory services in areas such as fleet planning, assessing suitable routes for electrification and selecting an efficient charging infrastructure.

“Dagab and Axfood is committed to achieving fossil-free transports and we are now pooling resources with Scania to reach that target,” says Klas Balkow, President and CEO, Axfood. “With our extensive network of stores throughout the country, as well as online customer sales, transforming the distribution system while upholding efficiency is a huge undertaking that will require careful planning and implementation. In this endeavour, we are pleased to partner with Scania over the coming years.”

The initial step in this partnership will be the delivery of Scania’s new-generation electric truck and plug-in hybrid vehicle to Dagab. These vehicles will be deployed on suitable routes in the greater Stockholm area. They will also be instrumental in assessing the prerequisites for further expansion of an electrified fleet.

Dagab and Scania recognise that there are many challenges that must be overcome, including ensuring sufficient power supplies at logistics centres, establishing efficient charging facilities along distribution routes and adapting the fleet for seasonal variations.

In certain cases, it might be preferable to instead operate on renewable fuels such as biogas or biodiesel to achieve immediate carbon emission reductions. Together, the parties will thoroughly analyse routes and distribution patterns to ensure the best solution for each transport task as well as addressing flexibility challenges.

Dagab will in 2023 open its new 100,000-square metre logistics centre in Bålsta, northwest of Stockholm. This centre will handle 60 percent Dagab’s goods volume. Scania will contribute in planning the centre to handle not only Dagab’s own fleet of vehicles but also incoming electrified trucks delivering goods.“This agreement is a clear manifestation of our aim to be leading in the shift to sustainable transport in close collaboration with forward-looking companies, mutually exploring and developing logistics systems and technology along the way to a fossil-free future. No one single player has all the answers today, and it is only together with customers, infrastructure partners, energy suppliers and policy makers that we will find the answers that are optimal for the entire ecosystem,” says Henrik Henriksson, President and CEO, Scania.

For further information, please contact: 
Karin Hallstan, Head of Corporate Communication & PR 
Tel: +46 76 842 81 04 
E-mail: karin.hallstan@scania.com

Magnus Törnblom, Head of Press
Tel: + 46 70 266 27 12
E-mail: magnus.tornblom@axfood.se 

Scania is a world-leading provider of transport solutions. Together with our partners and customers we are driving the shift towards a sustainable transport system. In 2019, we delivered 91,700 trucks, 7,800 buses as well as 10,200 industrial and marine engines to our customers. Net sales totalled to over SEK 152 billion, of which about 20 percent were services-related. Founded in 1891, Scania now operates in more than 100 countries and employs some 51,000 people. Research and development are concentrated in Sweden, with branches in Brazil and India. Production takes place in Europe, Latin America and Asia, with regional production centres in Africa, Asia and Eurasia. Scania is part of TRATON SE. For more information visit: www.scania.com.