Tesco has launched a new refrigerated rail freight service that will help it deliver seasonal lines in the run-up to Christmas.
The debut of Tesco’s latest rail initiative comes as retailers confront supply chain challenges but it will also help achieve sustainability ambitions by taking trucks off the roads.
The service, running seven days a week between Tilbury and Coatbridge in Scotland, in partnership with Direct Rail Services, will ”replace 7.3 million road miles with greener distribution”, Tesco said.
It is the first time Tesco has used refrigerated rail freight in the UK. Over the next few weeks, it will deliver ”hundreds of different products, including festive favourites such as sprouts, parsnips, carrots, onions, oranges and lemons just in time for Christmas dinner”.
Tesco UK and Ireland chief executive Jason Tarry said: “We’ve been using rail to transport our goods since 2008 and this new service reflects our continuing commitment to rail which has clear advantages for our business, our customers and the planet.
”Our rail service will be an important part of our efforts to deliver a fantastic Christmas for our customers but the journey doesn’t stop here as we continue to increase the number of containers we transport by rail as part of our commitment to reach net-zero emissions in our operations by 2035.”
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