Tiger Brands introduces alternative-fuel logistics fleet for Albany bread deliveries
The new fleet will initially operate on selected Albany bread delivery routes, with plans for a phased expansion as the company evaluates performance, fuel efficiency, and environmental impact.
SOUTH AFRICA – Tiger Brands has accelerated its shift toward a lower-emissions logistics network by introducing compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks into its Albany bread distribution fleet.
The initial rollout features a fleet of 14 CNG-powered vehicles representing an investment of approximately R12 million (US$736,936).
Operating out of the Albany Germiston Bakery in Johannesburg, these specialized delivery trucks have a single-trip range of roughly 480 kilometers and have begun servicing delivery routes nearest to the facility to maximize operational efficiency.
To support the new logistics infrastructure, Tiger Brands has installed a dedicated CNG fueling point directly on-site at the Germiston facility.
The company confirmed that its Albany Super Bakery, currently under construction in Pretoria (Tshwane), will be the next regional operation to receive a dedicated CNG delivery fleet.
The transition forms a key pillar of Tiger Brands’ broader transport strategy aimed at diversifying its energy mix, buffering against global energy volatility, and reducing heavy reliance on conventional diesel.
Over the next five years, Tiger Brands plans to transition 10% of its total transport fleet to alternative-fuel vehicles.
Alongside the natural gas deployment, the company is actively piloting electric, hybrid, and solar-powered vehicle technologies to evaluate their long-term viability across its South African operations.
Management notes that switching to CNG helps stabilize transport cost predictability while directly advancing the group’s 2030 Environmental Stewardship targets, which aim for a 30% reduction in carbon emissions and sourcing 31% of electrical energy from renewable sources.
According to Quinton Swart, Managing Director of Bakeries at Tiger Brands, the integration of CNG vehicles lowers fuel expenses and shields the business from diesel price fluctuations, ultimately helping to maintain consumer affordability. Natural gas vehicles produce significantly fewer air pollutants and greenhouse gases compared to standard diesel trucks.
“We expect the introduction of CNG vehicles to the Albany fleet to deliver meaningful benefits for the business and value for our consumers by lowering fuel costs, reducing exposure to diesel price volatility and improving fleet efficiency. At the same time, we are reducing our impact on the environment and caring for the communities in which we operate,” says Quinton Swart, MD: Bakeries, Tiger Brands.
While South Africa’s commercial CNG market remains in its early development stages, regulatory data from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) indicates rising adoption among industrial fleets aligned with global decarbonization trends.
The move marks an important step in the company’s drive to reduce its environmental footprint while improving operational efficiency, strengthening supply chain resilience and supporting consumer affordability.
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