Grupo ETE strengthens its integrated logistics offering with the expansion of industrial refrigeration capacity at the Azores Logistics Platform
With the new industrial refrigeration unit (in positive and negative controlled temperature), Grupo ETE more than doubles its refrigerated cargo storage capacity to 1,550m2, significantly enhancing and anticipating its ability to meet local demands and needs in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
With a focus on customer satisfaction and responding to local demand, Grupo ETE has recently invested in expanding its integrated logistics platform in the Azores with the construction of a new industrial refrigeration infrastructure for storage in controlled temperature, significantly boosting its ability to meet the specific needs of this Region. This new industrial refrigeration unit will enable Grupo ETE to elevate its capacity, quality, and level of service associated with its local logistics activity.
Parallely, Grupo ETE has invested in strengthening and expanding its integrated logistics offering to new services, including the last-mile distribution of goods at ambient and controlled temperatures, with the acquisition of its own fleet of vans, partially electric. This investment will also increase the safety and efficiency levels of the logistics operation for the distribution of all types of cargo and products locally. The combination of these investments in capacity expansion and the level of logistics offering elevates Grupo ETE’s level of capability and excellence in logistics, specifically in the last-mile distribution service in the Azores, particularly in the transport and storage of refrigerated cargo.
Thanks to the prime location of the integrated logistics platform – close to the port and airport of Ponta Delgada – this new infrastructure and the reinforcement of the range of logistics services will also increase the availability of the logistics distribution chain for local products between the islands of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the mainland, clearly supporting export and the regional economy. With the expansion of logistics capabilities, distribution, and storage, Grupo ETE locally enhances the synergies between its local companies – ETE Logística, Transinsular, and ETG – as well as promotes the creation of new synergies with local partners, strengthening the economy at different levels.
In the words of Tiago Martins, Board Member of Grupo ETE responsible for logistics operations, “this is yet another investment by Grupo ETE in the Azores that demonstrates our commitment to the development of the economy of this Autonomous Region and to offering integrated logistics solutions that anticipate the needs of our customers and that allow us to elevate the standards of quality and excellence of our services. Additionally, it is another step that consolidates our connection with local and regional communities, reinforcing Grupo ETE’s position as one of the main logistical operators and integrators in Portugal. It should also be noted that one of Grupo ETE’s concerns in executing this investment was promoting a positive and significant impact on the economy and local economic operators, materialised in the fact that around 60% of this financial effort was awarded to companies in the Region.”
Sustainability as a priority
Grupo ETE is strongly committed to implementing and executing good environmental and social practices. Good environmental practices were also a priority throughout this process, including an increased focus on the reuse of materials, energy efficiency, water efficiency, proper waste treatment, as well as the goal of reducing the environmental footprint. At this level, it is worth noting that the logistics platform is now equipped with a tank with a capacity of 50,000 litres that feeds a system for harvesting rainwater for the logistics park’s own consumption. The washing of containers, also a service provided by the Group in the logistics park, is now done without using mains water, a very significant change from the perspective of protecting natural resources and promoting water efficiency.
Also noteworthy is the completion of the implementation of a photovoltaic park on the rooftops of the buildings to produce self-consumption energy through a system of approximately 400 photovoltaic panels with a power of 240 kWp. In this way, Grupo ETE’s logistics platform in Ponta Delgada will have the capacity to generate energy for 50% of its annual electricity consumption.
Furthermore, regarding environmental sustainability, it is important to mention that the new last-mile distribution fleet is already partially based on fully electric vehicles, thus also contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Region.
Lastly, the social good practices, noting that this investment allows for the creation of new direct and indirect jobs, mostly qualified.