Martin Brower expands electric fleet to support McDonald’s net zero goals in Canada

Volvo Trucks North America customer Martin Brower, a leading supply chain solutions provider for global restaurant chains, is taking delivery of ten additional Volvo VNR Electric vehicles. These vehicles will support food and beverage deliveries to select McDonald’s restaurants in the greater Montreal and greater Toronto areas. As a key distributor for McDonald’s global operations, Martin Brower has partnered with the restaurant leader to help reduce its carbon footprint in Canada by expanding its fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles in two of its distribution centres.

The battery-electric vehicles, used for deliveries to select McDonald’s restaurants in the greater Montreal and greater Toronto areas, build on the success of the first zero-tailpipe emission tractor deployed in 2022 at Martin Brower’s Baie d’Urfé distribution centre. This initial trial supported deliveries to McDonald’s restaurants in the Montreal area and proved the feasibility of using heavy-duty battery-electric vehicles for routine routes and large product loads.

“It’s exciting to see a powerhouse brand like McDonald’s working with their partners to help decarbonize the transportation of goods,” said Matthew Blackman, managing director for Canada, Volvo Trucks North America. “It’s a testament to the performance and reliability of the Volvo VNR Electric that these global leaders are choosing to scale their trial of battery-electric vehicles where feasible.”

Following the initial successful trial, McDonald’s Canada and Martin Brower have collaborated to deploy ten more Volvo VNR Electric vehicles. Seven of these vehicles will operate in the greater Toronto area, while the remaining three will be domiciled at the Montreal distribution centre in Baie-D’Urfé and operate in the greater Montreal area.

“After two years with the battery-electric Volvo VNR tractor on the road, we are pleased to see more electric vehicles added to the fleet serving McDonald’s restaurants in the trial areas, as we work towards our global pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” said Hope Bentley, head of supply chain, McDonald’s Canada. “Even though customers won’t notice any difference in their favourite order, McDonald’s is taking action behind the scenes to help make an impact in the communities we serve, for the planet we share.”

“McDonald’s has been a like-minded collaborator for many decades with aligned goals,” said Julie Dell’Aniello, president, Martin Brower Canada. “Together, our companies share similar commitments to test alternative-fuel vehicles.”

Martin Brower, a long-time service provider for McDonald’s, has partnered with the fast-food giant since 1956, delivering food and beverage products to founder Ray Kroc’s first restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. Both companies have committed to significant GHG emissions reduction goals, with McDonald’s aiming to achieve net-zero GHG emissions globally by 2050 and Martin Brower targeting a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.

To optimize the deployment of the new electric trucks, Martin Brower worked with Vision Truck Group, a local Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer, to spec the ideal truck configuration based on the routes and applications monitored during the Montreal trial. Vision Truck Group utilized the Electric Performance Generator (EPG) tool to identify the preferred Volvo VNR Electric configurations for Martin Brower, taking into account specific route details, including traffic patterns and environmental factors such as terrain and ambient temperature. The electric vehicles based at the Baie d’Urfé distribution centre will be serviced by Camions Volvo Montreal, which assisted Martin Brower with its first 6×4 configuration Volvo VNR Electric tractor during the initial trial. The electric vehicles operating in the greater Toronto area will be serviced by Vision Truck Group.

McDonald’s commitment to achieving net-zero GHG emissions globally by 2050 aligns with the initiative behind the Montreal trial, which tested lower tailpipe emission vehicles with its supply chain partner, Martin Brower. This collaboration and the expansion of the VNR Electric fleet mark significant steps towards a more sustainable future for both companies and the communities they serve.