FrieslandCampina expands electric fleet with four refrigerated trucks

NETHERLANDS – FrieslandCampina, in collaboration with transport partner Simon Loos, has taken another step toward making its logistics more sustainable by expanding its electric fleet to four refrigerated electric trucks.

The positive experiences following the introduction of the first refrigerated electric truck in 2024 laid the foundation for further scaling.

“With the expansion to four e-trucks, sustainable logistics is increasingly becoming part of daily operations within FrieslandCampina’s supply chain,” said Ruben Froyman, Global Logistics Lead Europe & Retail & Americas at FrieslandCampina.

“The electric trucks are owned by our transport partner Simon Loos. This expansion is the result of close collaboration, shared ambitions and joint investments.”

The trucks are deployed for refrigerated transport from FrieslandCampina’s distribution centre in Maasdam, the Netherlands. They can be charged on site in Maasdam, allowing the vehicles to recharge during idle periods and increasing operational efficiency.

The expanded deployment demonstrates that electric transport is also a practical solution for refrigerated distribution, provided that suitable vehicles and charging infrastructure are in place.

“We are proud to take this step together with FrieslandCampina and expand to four electric trucks,” added Simon Loos, Chief Operations Officer at Simon Loos. “By investing and innovating together, we are making tangible progress towards carbon-neutral transport.”

In 2024, FrieslandCampina became the first company in the Netherlands to operate a refrigerated electric truck powered by farm-generated renewable energy. The new e-trucks also run entirely on renewable energy generated at member dairy farms.

The expanded use of electric trucks aligns with FrieslandCampina’s broader sustainability ambitions. By linking renewable energy from farms to low-emission transport, the company is making a concrete contribution to further decarbonising transport and logistics across its supply chain.

Recently, the company commissioned a new, future‑proof ice‑water installation, an investment of US$11.53 million (10 million euros), at its production site in Lummen.

The installation uses up to 50% less electricity and reduces total energy costs by 12%, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of around 600 households.

The new installation replaces the existing ice‑water system and now provides both process cooling and cooling for the office spaces.

The switch from ammonia to CO₂ as a refrigerant significantly improves workplace safety and ensures the installation is well‑prepared for future regulations and standards.

Subscribe to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world. SUBSCRIBE HERE