METRO LOGISTICS manages fresh logistics for Alnatura

METRO LOGISTICS takes over the management of fresh logistics for the leading organic retailer Alnatura throughout Germany. This includes both the logistical handling of its own branch network and that of the food retail supplied by Alnatura for the ranges of fruits & vegetables, dairy products, as well as parts of the dry goods range.

(Düsseldorf/Darmstadt) Around 20 million packaging units are to be stored, picked, and transshipped at the METRO LOGISTICS locations in Kirchheim, Altlandsberg, and Bergkirchen – a comprehensive collaboration between both companies.

The METRO LOGISTICS locations in Altlandsberg and Kirchheim will serve as regional distribution centers for around 150 Alnatura stores as well as for the food retail with goods from the fresh, fruits & vegetables, and dry goods ranges. The Bergkirchen location will become the cross-dock platform for the Bavarian region in the future. The operational start of the long-term cooperation is planned for April 2024.

The background of the cooperation is a strategic shift in Alnatura’s purchasing. An intensive concept phase to develop a logistics solution tailored to Alnatura’s needs has preceded the collaboration with METRO LOGISTICS. Alnatura’s Managing Director Rüdiger Kasch comments: “Our goal is to manage purchasing ourselves in the future and to work directly with all our suppliers. Therefore, we will take over the fresh supply, including fruits and vegetables, for our over 150 Alnatura Super Natur markets as well as for our partner markets nationwide, and we will supply our trading partners with fresh products from the METRO LOGISTICS locations. With METRO LOGISTICS, we have a logistics partner by our side that meets our high demands for fresh logistics and the handling of certified organic goods.” The collaboration with the previous organic wholesalers will continue mainly in the areas of reusable beverages and regional ranges.

Years of expertise in temperature-controlled logistics

“Food logistics is our DNA, and we are pleased that we were able to convince Alnatura of our many years of expertise in temperature-controlled logistics. Our strong quality management, which ensures consistently high quality standards in all processes, was certainly also decisive. For this purpose, we employ specially trained personnel who will carry out the quality assurance of the organic goods,” says Arnd Stoehr, Managing Director of METRO LOGISTICS.

METRO LOGISTICS offers six different temperature zones for the storage and transshipment of food from various product groups in both regional distribution centers and the regional logistics hub in Bergkirchen. These zones each have different handling requirements and are certified according to all relevant food certifications, such as IFS Logistics or Organic.

Sustainable action capability and efficiency increase

The new fresh logistics approach from Alnatura is intended to lead not only to centralized assortment management but also to sustainable action capability and efficiency increases along the entire supply chain.

Photo: © Metro Logistics