The beer trucks pulling up to your store may look the same, but they’re changing under the bonnet.
MGA corporate partner Asahi Beverages has rolled out five new electric Volvo trucks in Perth, delivering Victoria Bitter, Carlton Dry and Balter, and tens of millions of litres of other beverages, to bottle shops and liquor retailers across the city. The fleet, owned and operated by logistics partner Toll Group, is expected to complete more than 36,000 deliveries a year.
For Perth-based independent retailers, the change is already underway. For members elsewhere, it signals where the industry is heading.
The shift from diesel to electric is expected to cut Asahi’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 140 tonnes annually. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 50 cars off the road each year. Asahi has also confirmed that 100% of electricity across its Australian sites is now sourced from or matched with renewable energy.
For independent retailers thinking about their own sustainability credentials, the message from a major supplier is clear: cleaner supply chains are becoming the norm, not the exception.
Asahi Beverages CEO Amanda Sellers said the move demonstrated that sustainability and commercial sense aren’t mutually exclusive. “This investment makes commercial sense for our business and is a big step towards creating sustainable and reliable supply chains with our customers and partners.”
The electric trucks have a 270km range on a single charge and are fitted with advanced safety systems, meaning quieter, lower-emission deliveries without compromising reliability. Three dedicated charging stations have been installed at Asahi’s Forrestfield distribution centre, part of a broader $67 million investment by Toll Group in electric heavy vehicle infrastructure, co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The fleet is expected to complete more than 36,000 deliveries to bottle shops and retailers across Perth each year.
For MGA members, this is a useful conversation starter. Whether you’re fielding questions from customers about sustainability, reviewing your own operations, or simply want to understand how your major suppliers are evolving their logistics footprint, this is worth noting.
