logistiek

The days of low-cost packages imported directly from China are over, experts at the University of Antwerp predict. The sharp increase in shipping and delivery costs coupled with the capacity decrease caused by the coronavirus only add to existing problems.

Apcoa wants to turn its European network of car parks into distribution centres, where parcels are put into cargo bikes for deliveries in city centres. These should profit from a reduction in congestion and pollution.

An impressive record for Tesco: the British supermarket chain is the first to deliver a million grocery orders in one week. The retailer hired 16,000 additional employees to cope with the surge in orders due to the corona crisis.

Lidl is publishing a list of the suppliers behind its private label brands in Germany. The discounter is one of the first chains in the world to disclose such sensitive information, and says it does so in a move to become more sustainable and transparent.

One of the worst hit industries will be fashion, a Moody's report says. As stores are forced to close, the spring collection can not be sold and will be out of fashion by the time stores can open again. Moreover, some chains will not have generated enough cash in order to buy the autumnal collections.

FMCG giant Unilever continues to invest in ways to sell its ice cream brands Ben & Jerry's and Magnum directly to consumers. To this end, it is setting up a logistics network of around a thousand locations. The multinational also wants to explore the possibility of delivery by drone.

Walmart subsidiary Asda will roll out a pickup service in the UK within an hour of ordering and set up a test with Kellogg’s and Unilever.