Dutch retailer Albert Heijn has opened a new 'HUB' distribution point in The Hague and relocated its existing HUB in Amsterdam. A 'HUB' is a distribution depot on the outskirts of a city, where articulated trucks deliver groceries ordered online. From the HUBs, much smaller delivery vans take the orders to the various distribution points around the city.
Until now, the delivery vans were picking up the online orders from customers in The Hague at the distribution centre in Rotterdam. The new HUB in The Hague will make the delivery service in this region much more efficient. In addition, the company will save around 300,000 kilometers in transport per year, reducing its CO2 emissions and overall carbon footprint considerably.
The existing HUB in Amsterdam will be moved to a location with a larger capacity, which will add to the overall reduction in transport mileage.
Albert Heijn aims to reduce the environmental impact of its home deliveries. Earlier this year it introduced a bicycle-courier service and an electric delivery van, in Amsterdam.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Martha Sparrius. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
