The new block train was initiated by duisport agency GmbH, a subsidiary of the duisport Group. Far East Land Bridge Ltd (FELB) supported the implementation as the operator. The costs for the entire project are in the six-figure range. "For us, this is a customer-oriented and, in particular, sustainable solution," says Fressnapf founder and owner Torsten Toeller. "Because 75% less CO2 is emitted compared to the sea route. We are therefore investing equally in sustainability and customer focus in the context of our ecosystem."

A total of 42 containers, each weighing around 20 tons, made the journey from the Chinese region of Linyi to the Fressnapf import warehouse at the port of Duisburg in mid-April. The containers contain scratching posts, resting places, dog accessories etc. in particular. These are all items that Fressnapf logistics needs in order to serve its franchise partners and store employees as well as customers online and in the stores as usual. The train was on the road for a total of 24 days, was completely reloaded twice and passed through China, Russia, Belarus, Poland and finally Germany on its journey.

The logistics project of the Fressnapf Group and duisport also supports the implementation of environmentally friendly transport solutions. The rail route saves a total of 75% of the CO2 footprint of the sea route, and only 11,000 instead of 22,000 km are covered on the sea route. In addition, electric trains are used, which are mainly powered by hydropower. Shifting containers from truck to rail will also reduce congestion in and around the seaports involved in the East-West container trade. As international regulators have set strict environmental regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions, sustainability plays an important role in the supply chain.

"We are delighted that we were able to provide the Fressnapf Group, a long-standing customer, with an alternative for the transportation of important goods from Asia to Europe at such short notice thanks to our block train. The Port of Duisburg is the hub for Asian traffic, with around 30 percent of all China trains now passing through the port, which has a constantly growing network. As a full-service provider, we develop individual solutions for our customers, and the Fressnapf train is a successful example of this," says Erich Staake, CEO of the duisport Group.