Retail trade Coop continues shift from road to rail
Coop is relying even more heavily on the train to transport croissants, meat and milk with a new reloading center in Zurich. This saves time and CO2. However, trucks will still be needed in the future.
07.11.2025, 09:34
07.11.2025, 16:26
SDA
"Around the world, food is typically delivered to stores regionally by truck," said Coop CEO Philipp Wyss on Friday at the opening of a new reloading center in Zurich. Coop wants to take a different approach - and has therefore rented two SBB tracks in Zurich's Hardfeld district.
From now on, goods from the regional distribution center in Schafisheim AG will arrive here three times a day by freight train. These are only distributed by trucks "on the last mile".
The trucks pick up the systematically packed loads from the railroad tracks. They then drive to the 71 supermarkets in the town. The retailer aims to save around 58,000 truck journeys per year.
CO2 reduction of 80 percent
According to a press release issued on Friday, the combination of road and rail will reduce CO2 emissions by 80 percent compared to road transportation alone. In the long term, Coop wants to make transportation to its stores emission-free - for example, by operating the remaining trucks electrically.
Coop has been working on the new system in Zurich for a year and a half. In Geneva, however, regional goods transportation by rail has already been established since 2013. One of the reasons for this is that the highway between Lausanne and Geneva is particularly congested. But freight trains are also used in Ticino, Jura and Upper Valais.
"We are thinking about where else this form could be used," continued CEO Wyss. The prerequisite is that, among other things, there are many stores in a small space - and of course a good rail connection.
Trucks provide flexibility
Coop operates six regional distribution centers throughout Switzerland, which are supplied with products from the national headquarters or from producers. In total, Coop delivers two thirds of its national goods shipments by rail. Over the last ten years, Coop has invested CHF 250 million in the shift from road to rail.
However, if a train line should break down, such as the one in the Gotthard Base Tunnel after a freight train derailed, Coop can also switch to trucks at short notice. The retailer currently has 650 of these.
"Logistics is a complex business," explained the CEO. "Everything has to work together." With the SBB rail network, however, there is generally a high level of schedule reliability. This allows long-term planning for the individual locations.
The relocation also offers an advantage for car drivers. "This will avoid up to 8,100 hours of traffic jams per year between the Schafisheim distribution center and Zurich city center," Coop announces.
