Finnish retail group Kesko, operator of K-Market and other grocery stores across Finland and Europe, has unveiled an ambitious plan to electrify up to 30% of its commercial vehicle fleet by 2030.
The company plans to introduce 70 electric vans and trucks by 2026, growing to 300 electric vehicles (EVs) in total within four years. This fleet transformation will support deliveries to approximately 1,100 K Group grocery stores. Finnish national data forecasts that electric vehicles will constitute 11% of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations and 17% of medium-duty trucks by 2030, positioning Kesko ahead of broader market trends both domestically and internationally.
Initially, the electric trucks will operate in distribution hubs around Vantaa and Tampere, with expansions planned for Oulu, Seinäjoki, Jyväskylä, Mikkeli, and Turku within the year. Electric vans are already deployed for home grocery deliveries in Helsinki, Turku, and Tampere.
Kesko’s existing charging infrastructure includes heavy EV charging points at its Hakkila central warehouse and regional terminals in Seinäjoki and Tampere. The company is investing nearly €10 million to expand its charging network through its K-Lataus division, installing new chargers powered by renewable energy at logistics centres in Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, and Mikkeli. This will ensure HGV charging availability at all key grocery trade logistics centres.
Jyrki Tomminem, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Management and Logistics at Kesko, said: “We want to be a forerunner in the electrification of heavy vehicles. We intend to increase the number of electric trucks and vans to nearly 40 this year, to 70 in 2026, and to 200 by 2030.”
He added the company also plans to raise its natural gas vehicle fleet to nearly 40 vehicles by 2030 and is monitoring developments in hydrogen vehicles and their charging infrastructure.
Kesko’s electrification push highlights growing momentum in sustainable logistics within the retail sector, aiming to reduce emissions while modernizing its delivery operations.