News|02.04.2024

The largest Easter nest in Switzerland: Galliker Altishofen

For months, a brisk stream of around 600 temperature-controlled trucks travel to and from Altishofen - loaded with a total of more than 50,000 pallets of Easter products. The long lead time is the result of the high production volume, which the producers would not be able to handle in a shorter time. Production, transport, storage and customizing interlock like cogwheels to supply Swiss supermarkets, grocery stores and small delicatessens with chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs and other sweet temptations at Easter time. As a delicate cargo, the chocolate is not only transported at a controlled temperature, but is also stored in a product-specific manner and processed in customizing if required.

The largest Easter nest in Switzerland: Galliker A...

To ensure that the delicious chocolate bunnies keep their shape, a constant temperature of between 15 and 18°C is essential. This applies to transport from the production site as well as to delivery, storage time and, of course, to customizing the products - because Galliker not only collects the chocolate goods for customers from the production sites in Switzerland and nearby countries with a total of over 600 temperature-controlled trucks: around half of the 50,000 Easter pallets are stored or processed in Altishofen during the Easter preparation period. The existing FSSC22000 certification guarantees compliance with all relevant guidelines.

Peak season in customizing for individual Easter products
The tailor-made compilation of individual product components such as co-packing, labelling, price labelling, sorting and the equipping of sales displays are part of the daily business - of course, as with transport, always in a temperature-controlled environment, explains Kilian Gasser, Head of Logistics Center 4 and thus the entire customizing area: "The order volume increases significantly, especially in the weeks leading up to Easter. At times of high capacity utilization, we increase our customizing staff by a good third to around 70 people. At this time, practically our entire department is dedicated to the Easter business - employees from other logistics departments are called in to provide support."

Increased efficiency in production thanks to flexible warehouse use
The importance of the Easter business is also reflected in the increasing demand for storage space. Reto Barrer, Sales Manager at Galliker Food Logistics, explains: "While the basic transport volume for Galliker has remained similarly high over the last few years, the demand for storage space in particular has increased. On the customer side, space previously used for storage purposes is often repurposed - for additional production space, for example." The capacity gained is more lucrative for manufacturers than using the space for storage, as the need for storage space fluctuates greatly over the course of the year.

While manufacturers have to compensate for fluctuating storage requirements and thus empty space in their own warehouses, Galliker enables variable use of storage space throughout the year - a contribution to efficiency and flexibility in the chocolate business. Galliker Transport therefore not only meets all the requirements regarding the transport and processing of chocolate or temperature-controlled food products in general, but also allows customers to focus more strongly on their core production business thanks to the flexibility in warehousing and individual customizing.

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