Environment and people friendly logistics
Aiming to realize a sustainable supply chain, the Calbee Group supports the White Logistics movement to improve the productivity of trucking transport and create a comfortable working environment. We are actively working with stakeholders to improve working conditions for those involved in logistics. We strive for optimal logistics operations and are advancing efforts to promote warehouse automation, thereby reducing cargo handling and waiting times. For truck drivers and those working in logistics, the Calbee Group aims to achieve environmentally and people-friendly logistics.
Pursuing optimal logistics operations
Optimizing logistics operations will lead to reductions in the environmental and social burden. In FY2024, we reviewed our transportation and delivery routes and established three new logistics bases,bringing the total to 14 nationwide. We are also relocating existing bases and partially expanding several to redesign our system for optimal logistics.
Logistics bases across Japan
Distribution Center (DC): Inventory-based distribution center adjacent to a factory
Service Station (SS): Inventory-based delivery center adjacent to the area of consumption
Achieved an average waiting time of 16 minutes at the Company’s logistics bases
The Utsunomiya DC, which commenced operations in February 2025, is one of the largest distribution centers within the Group in Japan. It features more than three times the number of truck berths used for loading and unloading cargo compared to previous distribution centers. Additionally, we have installed three truck unloaders that automatically transport products from trucks into the warehouse. They have also made significant contributions to reducing driver waiting times. We achieved an average waiting time of 16 minutes in FY2024, compared to the target of less than 30 minutes, for drivers at our logistics bases.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by improving load factor for deliveries
The restructuring of logistics bases successfully reduced the frequency of product movement between product storage and retrieval warehouses. We have also combined conventional initiatives, such as utilizing pallet transport and adjusting the size of cardboard boxes to fit the load space of trucks, and improved our load factor for deliveries by 3.3% in FY2024 compared to the previous fiscal year.
Truck unloader
Achieving a work environment with reduced burden through automation in the warehouse
At the Calbee Group’s logistics bases, various initiatives are underway, including the use of remote-operated automated forklifts and automated warehouses where machines handle receiving, storage, and shipping operations. By utilizing these devices to mechanize operations such as loading and unloading cargo from trucks and moving and storing loads in warehouses, we are working to alleviate the physical burden on workers as well as the risk of occupational accidents and create an employee-friendly workplace.
A self-driving forklift
Namiyo Fujikura
Calbee Logistics, Inc.
Employee insight
When I first joined the company, my primary responsibilities included loading products and operating forklifts. However, as automation increased, the number of tasks that rely on manual labor has decreased. I am currently responsible for the operations and maintenance of an automated warehouse. Equipment malfunctions will go unnoticed unless I undergo close observation on a regular basis, so I consciously make time to inspect the equipment as part of my daily work. When a problem arises with the equipment, the waiting time for truck drivers is extended, delivery times to customers are delayed, and the factory’s production plan is affected. Therefore, we focus on preventive maintenance activities to ensure that operations run smoothly.