Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan begins joint trunk line transportation from Kansai to Kyushu with KOIKE-YA
Promoting logistics efficiency through mixed transport of heavy and light freight

In October 2024, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. (Representative Director, President & CEO Calin Dragan; headquarters in Minato, Tokyo; hereinafter "CCBJI") began joint trunk line transportation* with KOIKE-YA Inc. (President and CMO Akira Sato; headquarters in Itabashi & Shibuya, Tokyo; hereinafter “KOIKE-YA”) for transporting products from Kansai to Kyushu.
* Trunk line transportation: Transportation by heavy truck or other means from a pickup point with a large volume of loads to a delivery point in another area

Left: Truck loaded with only beverage products  　Right: Truck with a mix of beverage products on the bottom section and confectionery products on the top section

This initiative aims to improve the loading rate and promote the logistics efficiency of both companies by mixing heavy freight of beverages and light freight of confectionery products to make effective use of empty space in the back of the trucks. After loading beverage products at our warehouse, our logistics partner stops at the adjacent warehouses of KOIKE-YA’s consignment company, loads confectionery products in empty space in the cargo bed, and transports the mixed freight from Kansai to Kyushu.

To reduce long-distance transportation and transportation volume, we are working on “local production for local consumption” for logistics by dividing our business areas in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and 35 prefectures into six and digitally managing the demand and supply balance and the supply chain infrastructure to thoroughly manage transportation across the areas. However, long-distance transportation may occur due to demand for products with low production volumes, where it is necessary to secure trucks. In addition, since beverage products are heavy-weight freight, there may be empty space at the top of the truck bed relative to the volume capacity.

KOIKE-YA opened the Kyushu Aso Plant in Kumamoto Prefecture in July 2021 for the purpose of stable supply of products and reduction of logistics transportation volume due to the increase in sales volume, which has been effective in local production for local consumption and reducing truck transportation. However, some products with limited production bases require long-distance transportation and given the background of the 2024 logistics problem, KOIKE-YA had issues securing trucks for long-distance transportation.

In light of this situation, joint transportation will enable us to achieve a loading rate close to 100% in terms of volume and weight, which is expected to lead to a 33% reduction in the number of trucks used, compared to when each company arranges transportation from Kansai to Kyushu.**
** Figures based on test rollout conducted from August to September by both companies

The two companies will continue to contribute to the resolution of the “2024 logistics problem,” a social issue, and aim to provide a stable supply of sustainable products by improving logistics efficiency through the effective use of limited vehicles.

■ Start date of operation:
October 2024 (test conducted from August to September 2024)
■ Implementation area:
Transportation from Kansai to Kyushu
■ Scheme for this project

(1) After loading products at Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan's warehouse in the Kyoto area, our logistics partner stops at KOIKE-YA’s consignment warehouses in Kyoto and Osaka areas to load KOIKE-YA products in empty space left.
(2) The logistics partner transports the mixed freight of both companies’ products and delivers it to KOIKE-YA’s warehouse in the Fukuoka area and CCBJI’s warehouse in the Saga area.
 

※Please note that the information contained in this news release is current as of the date of release. Certain information may have changed since the date of release.