Edeka and pfenning logistics love logistics

With around 1,300 stores - approximately 1,000 of which are operated by independent retailers - Edeka Südwest is the second largest of seven Edeka regional companies in Germany. Its sales area covers the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland as well as the southern part of Hesse and neighboring parts of Bavaria.

pfenning logistics has been working for Edeka Südwest since November 2012. Just a few weeks ago, the contract with the logistics company was extended by several years ahead of schedule. "We have grown into the task bit by bit," says pfenning logistics Managing Director Matthias Schadler. At the beginning of the partnership, the Heddesheim-based logistics company was responsible for seasonal surpluses, but gradually various product ranges, the order picking business and value-added services were added.

"The principle of customer proximity determines the paths of our logistics"

85 employees take care of the storage and order picking of 2,300 items at multicube rhein-neckar, the multi-user logistics center opened by pfenning logistics in Heddesheim in 2013. The 13,000 pallet spaces are used to store the breakfast range as well as spirits, wine and sparkling wine. Up to 60 truck deliveries leave the logistics center every day to deliver picked goods to stores in the southwest.

"The principle of customer proximity determines the routes of our logistics," says Mathias Kipp, Head of Logistics at Edeka Südwest in Offenburg. Edeka therefore also relies on regional farmers and food producers in order to be able to offer consumers products from the region. The reasons for this lie not only in the high quality and freshness of the products, but also in the self-image of the cooperatively organized retail association. "We also want to strengthen the regional economy with this procurement strategy," says Kipp.

"Telematics systems enable a paperless workflow in transport control."

Matthias Schadler Managing Director pfenning logistics

There are also environmental aspects. "Every kilometer that we can save on the journey of our goods to the retail stores reduces transport kilometers and thus CO2 emissions," says the logistics specialist. Nationwide, the needs-based delivery of all Edeka Group stores is ensured by a dense, decentralized logistics network of 36 warehouses. Mathias Kipp sees the high level of logistical service in the supply chain of Germany's largest food retailer as a key issue: "Investments in efficient logistics processes are and will remain one of the key success factors for Edeka Südwest," says the logistics expert.

Modern IT makes distances shorter

Four years ago, pfenning logistics' new logistics center in the heart of the Rhine-Neckar region fit into the landscape. Awarded the DGNB certificate in platinum and equipped with the largest crystalline rooftop solar system in Europe, the property meets Edeka Südwest's requirements for environmentally conscious logistics. Added to this is the retail expertise in the area of Germany-wide store deliveries: pfenning logistics makes around 180,000 deliveries per year to almost all full-range retailers and discounters in the food retail sector, covering around 33 million kilometers by road.

The Edeka Group's sustainability policy includes the use of vehicles that comply with the latest emissions standards. This is also part of pfenning logistics' program. The retail logistics company invested 16 million euros in its vehicle fleet in 2016 and purchased 120 new vehicles with Euro 6 engines.

IT also shortens the distances for Edeka. "All vehicles used for retail deliveries are equipped with a telematics system that enables a paperless workflow in transport management," explains pfenning logistics boss Schadler. Part of the system is a tablet PC that every driver carries with them. It not only shows the optimum route, but also stores all the data and information accompanying the tour. The telematics system also has an interface to eco-driving: drivers learn to drive economically.

www.pfenning-logistics.comwww.edeka-suedwest.de