As part of a comprehensive realignment, CoolerU Logistics GmbH recently announced that NWU Nordwest Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft der Sparkasse Bremen mbH had become a shareholder (FreshPlaza reported). This has set the course for a stable future in food logistics and created a solid foundation for the company, according to founder and managing director Chris Ortiz. "Our business activities mainly comprise freight forwarding and groupage transport. Fruit and vegetable transport accounts for around a third of our total turnover. Our customers include fruit traders at the local wholesale market in Bremen and in the Rhine-Ruhr region."
It is currently peak season for strawberries – "a classic seasonal product," reports the freight forwarder. "In the run-up to Christmas, however, citrus fruits dominate our transport volume – astonishingly large quantities pass through our trucks." But it's not just seasonal goods that roll through the network: "Products such as bananas, lettuce, and herbs are among the absolute bestsellers. Demand is high and constant throughout the year. We are ideally positioned in this area – thanks, among other things, to our connections to several ripening facilities and herb producers."
CoolerU Logistics GmbH is also IFS-certified.
Expansion of the vehicle fleet
The shortage of drivers is also a real problem for many in the logistics industry, but here, the company can confidently buck the trend. "We are very well staffed and regularly receive applications from interested drivers – from Germany, Eastern Europe, and Latin America," says Ortiz. The dynamic company currently employs around 65 people. The fleet comprises 27 modern refrigerated trailers, and it continues to grow: ten additional vehicles are set to be added in the coming months. "With an average age of 35 to 40, our employees are in excellent shape. Now it's a matter of continuing to expand our workforce and fleet together."
Chris and Vanessa Ortiz and the new shareholders of NWU
Cost pressure and alternative drive systems
Rising toll charges, CO₂ surcharges, and generally increasing cost pressure are issues that are causing turmoil throughout the industry. The management of the Bremen-based refrigerated transport company is also facing challenges in this area, but believes it is well-positioned. "We are meeting these challenges with forward-looking planning and a consistent focus on efficiency – especially when it comes to avoiding unnecessary empty kilometers," emphasizes Ortiz. At the same time, the company is pursuing sustainable drive systems with great interest. While LNG is not currently an option for the freight forwarder, not least because of the cost risks that have become apparent during the coronavirus pandemic, initial experience is currently being gained with electric trucks. There is even greater interest in hydrogen as the drive system of the future: "We see significant potential here, especially compared to purely electric solutions." The fleet is already state-of-the-art. In addition, the fleet will be expanded to include gigaliners to further reduce CO₂ emissions, the company concludes.
For more information:
Chris Ortiz
CoolerU Logistics GmbH
Mühlenfeldstraße 39a
28355 Bremen
Tel: +49 421 517 000 70
info@cooleru.de
www.cooleru.de