All US Foods’ California broadline distribution centers to use renewable diesel

US Foods Holding Corp. announced additional sustainability initiatives March 3 that support the company’s ongoing commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its delivery fleet. The company will convert fleet fuel at all California broadline distribution centers from traditional diesel to renewable diesel by midyear. In addition, the company will add 30 electric trucks to its La Mirada, California, distribution center by the end of 2023.

These efforts build on the company’s existing environmental sustainability programs. The company previously reported a 7.3 percent reduction in scopes 1 and 2 emissions intensity since 2015 and a 6.9 percent reduction in gallons of fuel used per case delivered.

“At US Foods, delivering products by truck is core to our business and we continually work to improve the transportation efficiency of our fleet,” said Gautam Grover, senior vice president of operations excellence for US Foods. “Fleet sustainability projects like our renewable diesel fuel conversions and electric truck integrations directly contribute to our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and we look forward to expanding these efforts.”

US Foods is one of the early adopters of renewable diesel use within the foodservice industry, successfully converting 100 percent of the fleet fuel used at its Vista, California, broadline distribution center to renewable diesel fuel in 2021. By the end of the month, the company will complete three additional broadline distribution center renewable diesel fuel conversions at its Corona, Livermore and La Mirada, California, locations. The company also intends to utilize renewable diesel at its newest distribution center in Sacramento, California, which will open later this year.

The La Mirada onsite fueling station will provide renewable diesel fuel to one of the company’s largest localized fleets that service restaurants, hospitals and other foodservice operators across the West Coast. In addition to these conversions to renewable diesel, US Foods will introduce 15 electric trucks to its La Mirada fleet this year with plans underway to install smart charging infrastructure at the facility to accommodate an additional 15 electric trucks by the end of 2023. This effort will be one of the largest single-site deployments of electric trucks across the food service distribution industry.