Coffee gets a smooth ride on the rails

摘要

Nestle Suisse has inaugurated a unique, dedicated rail system for the bulk transport of green coffee beans from Antwerp to its main factory at Orbe in Switzerland. In 2004 the company investigated ways of improving the flow of imported coffee. Road and waterway transport systems were considered as well as rail. According to Urs Wagenbach from the export and industrial division of Nestle Suisse, four factors had to be taken into consideration: traceability; reliability; speed of delivery; and competitiveness.