Cereal Partners UK (CPUK), the manufacturers of Nestlé cereals, have invested in their first electric truck as part of their commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The new Volvo FM Battery Electric truck is based at CPUK's Staverton factory in Wiltshire and will be used primarily to transport Shredded Wheat and Shreddies to the company's distribution centre in Melksham.

It will also deliver CPUK's full cereal portfolio, including Cheerios, Nesquik and GoFree, from Melksham to local customers and transport pallets around the Staverton site.

Patryk Zmaczyński, Head of Supply Chain & Procurement at CPUK, said: “As we continue to evolve our operations to be more sustainable, the purchase of our first electric truck marks a notable landmark in our aim our commitment of being net zero by 2050.

“We have been early adopters of electric vehicles and continue to invest significantly in the technology. The investment in the vehicle and charging point will enable us to start to deliver our much-loved brands to our customers in a way that has a reduced impact on the environment.”

Operational since December, the quieter, emission-free e-truck is already proving beneficial for local deliveries.

CPUK has also installed a 160kW charger at the distribution centre, allowing the truck to recharge in just two hours. Performance monitoring is underway to determine the vehicle's maximum delivery range.

This investment supports Nestlé UK and Ireland's commitments to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050, which CPUK is aligned with.

CPUK aims to reduce emissions 20% by 2025, a target it is on track to achieve ahead of schedule. The e-truck forms part of CPUK's net zero roadmap for logistics. Other initiatives include warehouse LED lighting, resulting in 23% less energy usage, and exploring intermodal transportation and vehicle capacity improvements.

Nestlé UK and Ireland have also begun using bio-LNG trucks, rail containers and electric shunters.