Coca-Cola & Co. now taking the train more often

Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite or Römerquelle have been traveling multimodal and more sustainably through Austria since May 2023. With the correct equipment, the beverages roll end-to-end from Burgenland to Tirol or Vorarlberg where they end up in our shopping trolley. The environment benefits from this change, as it has already reduced the number of truck transports by 560.

Gerald Leichtfried, Distribution Manager (Coca-Cola HBC Österreich), Felix Sprenger, Supply Chain Director (Coca-Cola HBC Österreich), Christoph Grasl (Vorstand RCG), Patrick Redl, Logistics Manager (Coca-Cola HBC Österreich)

Coca-Cola is known all over the world and has been in Austria since 1929. Today, the majority of the beverages for the Austrian market are bottled by Coca-Cola HBC Austria in Edelstal, Burgenland. From there, popular brands like Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite or Römerquelle mineral water, are delivered to 70,000 customers and refresh local consumers.

A new approach in logistics

The commitment to sustainability is clear – also within transport logistics: Since May 2023, products from Coca-Cola HBC Austria have been traveling sustainably by rail on the main run. This approach combines conventional transport methods with innovative multimodal solutions.

Burgenland–Vienna–Tirol–Vorarlberg

The production and logistics centre in Edelstal, Burgenland, is the starting point of this journey. Here, the beverages are first transported by trucks to the Terminal Vienna South. Then it’s off on the main run by train towards Tirol, specifically to the Wörgl area or to the more western regions of Vorarlberg and Tirol, such as Hall or Wolfurt. After arriving, the last mile of the supply chain begins, with the onward journey once again being completed by trucks. From there, the food retailers take care of the last distribution to the supermarkets – where the beverages finally end up in our shopping trolley.

New equipment

Two-axle flat wagons or new 45-foot swap bodies are used to transport the beverages by rail. The latter are multimodal, meaning that they can be used on both rail and road and can be loaded and unloaded universally from the rear, the sides or from above. This is what sets them apart from conventional containers. Another feature is that they can be used across all sectors for any kinds of goods (e.g. in chemical or automotive logistics).

A focus on sustainability

By using multimodal transport solutions, Coca-Cola HBC Austria was able to shift around 560 truck transports from road to rail within a year. This resulted in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, with estimated savings of up to one tonne of CO2 per transport.

More information

25.07.2024