F&L is a neutral, not-for-profit members’ forum of senior business leaders who come together in F&L to put facts around key issues and to collaborate for mutual benefit to improve the performance of supply chains and logistics. We are an international network of shippers, LSPs all modes, technology, academia and policymakers, operating in all industry sectors & transport modes. On 16-17 October our Spanish and international communities meet in Zaragoza, Spain to discuss performance of air-sea-land despite global volatility and continued disruption, climate logistics and energy transition all modes, and creating value through a logistics cluster [see ‘attendees’ & ‘agenda’ tabs].
In-depth dialogue of this type with a senior leader multi-stakeholder customer / supplier / partner / competitor community is only possible in F&L. We are delighted that Spanish senior business leaders & alumni of the Zaragoza Logistics Center and MIT Global SCALE network will be present to share their knowledge and experience.
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F&L does not seek commercial gain. This is an-person meeting; discussion confidential to those in the room, no recording, no press/media permitted. With thanks to sponsors & partners.
Zaragoza, Spain, is home to Europe’s largest logistics platform and closely connected to the most important centres of European production and consumption. The format of this meeting is 3 topics, expert insight [see ‘guides’ tab] and participant workshops [see ‘attendees’ tab] to consider actions that each of us can influence now and where that influence can be enhanced by collaboration.
What can we learn from customers of Plaza: the largest logistics platform in Europe?
Venue: Plaza logistics park in Zaragoza & Hiberus hotel
Supply chain performance all modes, despite volatility & disruption?
Venue: Hiberus hotel
Three Key Issues
Venue: Institute of Technology, Aragón (private F&L buses depart Hiberus hotel 08:15)
08:30, Registration & coffee
10:30 – 11:30, coffee & interactive innovative projects / visit to ITA labs to see new projects
13:15 – 14:10, lunch
14:15, Reflections: cutting through hype & misinformation [audience & leaders]
15:00, Your next steps & deliverables. Workshops: choose 2 of 3.
17:00, Next steps & collaborative actions
17:30, Close
19:30, Networking drinks & dinner at Aura rooftop restaurant (private F&L buses depart Hiberus hotel 19:15)
Discussion leaders include
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| Reine Alemar Volvo Trucks |
Dr Susana Val ZLC, Director |
Inditex (fashion) |
Prof Alan McKinnon Professor of Logistics |
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| Axel Mattern Port of Hamburg Marketing, CEO |
Mats Forsberg Entrepreneur, Mentor |
Aliona Yurlova Freightos, Director |
Lena von Fritschen Transporeon, Director |
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| Kris Szmidt Cargill, EMEA Regional Transportation & Global Water Mode Lead |
Gavin W Roser Global affairs, lecturer, interviewer of global personalities |
Philip Evans F&L, Secretary General |
Mark Major Kühne Foundation, Climate Advisor |
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| Mark Scheerlinck Independent |
Pedro Sas Aragón Plataforma Logística, CEO |
John Manners-Bell Foundation for Future Supply Chain, Director & Transport Intelligence, CEO |
Pikolin Director |
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| Claus Postiasi LKW Walter, Director |
Pascal Jenni SBB Cargo International, CCO & Exec Board |
Ivana Josipovic Private sector multinational |
David Zorn Climeworks, Head Strategic Partnerships |
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| Alfonso Baspino Leroy Merlin, Head |
Miguel Angel Anía Aragón Government, Director General |
Beverages industry, Director | Mar Chao Port of Valencia, President |
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| B/S/H Director |
Julie Ji NTT Data, Senior Business Consultant |
Anton Barr Freightos, VP |
Carolina Ciprés ZLC, Director |
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| Niels Dejonghe Milence, Head |
María Domínguez Equimodal, CEO |
Alessandro Pregel Samskip, Corporate Key Account |
Jakob Muus Independent |
This is a practitioners’ community of senior business leaders; people who are actively leading industry today. Today’s challenges have become too big for even one sector to tackle.
Attendees 16-17 Oct included:
ACTE (Association of Transport & Logistics Centers of Spain)
ALIA (Asociación Logística Innovadora de Aragón)
Amazon
Ambrogio Intermodal
Another Tomorrow
Aragón Plataforma Logística
Arcese Trasporti
AVR
Bertschi
Beverages sector
Blume Global
BSH
Cargill
Carreras Grupo Logistico
Climeworks
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Cosco Shipping Lines (Spain)
DCSA (Digital Container Shipping Association)
DFDS Logistics
Equimodal
Finnlines
Forwarding Advisory
Foundation for Future Supply Chain
Freightos
Grupo Sesé
Havi Spain
HHLA
Hortifruit
HP
Inditex
Invista
JCV Shipping & Solutions
Johnson & Johnson
Kaira Digital
Kelloggs
Kenway Consulting
KLU Kühne Logistics University
Kuehne Foundation
KWS
Leroy Merlin
LKW Walter
LOeGISTIC
Logivity
LyondellBasell
Medlog
Meriaura Group
Milence
Move Intermodal
MultimodalOpen
Nike
Novaltia
Novelis Europe
NTT Data
OMP
Oracle Supply Chain Management
P&G
Page Group
Pikolin
Port of Barcelona
Port of Duisburg
Port of Hamburg
Port of Valencia
PSA Antwerp
PSA BDP
Rail Development
Rhenus
Roche
S3 Group
Saltoki
Samskip
SBB Cargo International
Scania
Smart Join Logistic
Stellantis
Stena Line
Trans EU / CargoON
Transfesa
Transporeon
UIRR
Unit 45
Vega International Roadraillink
ViiA
Volvo Trucks
VOS Logistics
WEC Lines
Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC) / MIT Global Scale Network
Participants from recent meetings below:
Participant list for Duisburg (June 2024)
Participant list for Italy (Apr 2024)
Participant list for Trieste (Nov 2023)
Participation list Den Hague (Apr 2023)
….. previous meetings here
YOUR PRIORITIES
Agreed by international senior business leaders across industry sectors & all transport modes (May/June 2024)
Business leaders agree collaboration within our own companies AND across industries is mission-critical because no-one can solve today’s challenges alone. This is especially true in logistics where we depend on others. 
In May/June 2024, hundreds of senior business leaders discussed opportunities and issues in global freight with F&L. See what you & they said below. Please ask if you would like the detailed reports.
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YOU SAID:
Sector-wide issues
Critical:
Also important: global shift of SCs driven by geopolitics & uncertainty, decarb costs & strategies, impact of climate change on SCs & infrastructure, industry consolidation, AI, changing distribution channels including last mile & direct to consumer.
Global supply chains
Critical:
Also important: visibility, tightened regulations to accelerate decarb, reliability of maritime / pinch points, development of green corridors / decarbonisation hubs & ecosystems, e-docs to digitalise documentation, near-shoring supply chains, autonomous vehicles & vessels.
European land
Critical:
Also important: fragmented land sector & SME inclusive actions, required investment in EV and road infrastructure, EU fiscal pressure including ETS & CBAM, investment in TEN-T corridors, interconnected green hubs, optimised asset return on investment through shared utilisation.
Goal: to collaborate on tangible multi-stakeholder solutions and actions which benefit everyone. Because we all agree that no-one can tackle today’s challenges alone and that we can create value for our customers, staff, suppliers, partners and communities by collaborating within our companies AND across industries.
Life is not becoming simpler for supply chain and logistics practitioners. We need a trusted window into others’ businesses and we need the help of our customers, suppliers, partners and our competitors to overcome some of today’s challenges.
F&L is an independent members’ forum with a large supportive community currently responsible for leading supply chains and logistics for recognised brand names and based around the globe. Dialogue is in confidence with no recording, press or media. F&L agendas are as up-to-date and as relevant as we can possibly make them, with changes taking place until the last moment. Participation is always strong at F&L. You don’t need to wait to see who else is coming before you decide whether to attend.
In 2023/24, the F&L network has been discussing key issues critical to the freight logistics sector including geopolitics, sustainability, technology driving change and the shifting regulatory environment. On top of these multiplying priorities we need to understand how business continuity and sustainability in all its forms requires planning and collaboration. Collaborating on our risk maps – multimodal strategies, cyber security, value frameworks, global flexibility & innovation exploitation – is being prepared.
Who is this meeting for? A broad community of senior management responsible for supply chain and logistics for shippers and brand owners, retail, supply, LPSs (all modes), ports, technology companies – all those who are actively working in, or with, the international supply chain and logistics. Those who want to move their own strategies forward through collaborative discussion with practitioners, sector experts and industry leaders across the supply chain. We can each drive our own success by learning from and collaborating with each other.
Why is F&L going to Zaragoza? To include the knowledge and experience of the senior busienss leaders with a facility in Plaza, largest logistics platform in Europe and ZLC Zaragoza Logistics Center: a research and educational institute which is in partnership with the MIT Global SCALE network, an international alliance of 6 research centres dedicated to the development of supply chain excellence through innovation).
Why should I attend? Innovation never comes from one mind; it is a process. Discussing strategy in an open, professional and social atmosphere so that we can listen and learn from each other is a strong fundament for further growth. Speakers, dialogue, debate and a chance to engage with peers and experts on topics which are helpful to “building your better 2024-25”. Together we can progress faster than we can alone and the F&L network represents significant players across Europe.
What can I expect at an F&L meeting? Industry practitioners and experts sharing meaningful examples and the learning from their own journeys, peers and experts asking (and answering) questions. You will leave knowing more than when you arrived, and with new peer contacts who may be helpful in your own strategies.
Is there anyone who may not attend? Journalists and press are not permitted because discussions are open throughout the meeting. F&L is a welcoming community, interested in enabling senior management and their teams to improve their understanding of what others in the market are doing and collaboration opportunities. All discussions are confidential and follow the Chatham House Rule which means that companies and individuals cannot be quoted. Non-members are invited to attend once or twice if they follow the spirit of the meeting. Then can then decide whether they may wish to be part of the community going forward.
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Aragón Plataforma Logística is the largest logistics platform in Europe and represents a global logistics offer (infrastructures, training, research and services) which is available to any person, company or institution interested in making their business more competitive. |
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Equimodal designs, manufactures, homologates and integrates containers, swap bodies & containerized solutions for intermodal transport and any logistic, industrial, energy or emergency application. |
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Specialized in logistics and supply chain management, ZLC is the Spanish center of the MIT Global SCALE Network, an international alliance of 6 leading research centers dedicated to the development of supply chain excellence through innovation.
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The Aragón Logistics Cluster group of private, non-profit companies founded in 2010, whose main objective is to channel the logistics, mobility and transport needs of Aragon and establish synergies between members to boost the competitiveness of their companies through collaboration, training and innovation and exploit the potential of the region to become a national logistics benchmark. |
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R2L is the solution to reducing CO2 emissions of truck transportation by 90% and help solve the truck driver crisis. |
Workshop Session on Multimodality and Logistics Clusters
Development of multimodal transport networks, particularly in European logistics clusters, emphasizing intermodality’s role in reducing carbon emissions, improving efficiency, and creating reliable transportation infrastructures. Public and private sector partnerships, technology solutions enhancing visibility & integration of the supply chain, issues with collaboration between players and lack of synchronisation between modes affecting utilisation. Expectation management is a differentiator, predictive data and communication / collaboration & ongoing cultural change.
Workshop Session on Decarbonisation
Costs, complexity and uncertainty pointed to proactive leadership and early adoption of innovative technologies to reduce costs over time and mitigate future risks. Positive trends & change drivers noted and discussion of clear strategies for moving forward – with a note to remain flexible!
Workshop session on Innovation: what are the Barriers?
Barriers clearly identified with more than 80% organisational rather than cost, resource or technological. An incredibly detailed discussion looking at budget, cost vs budget / ROI, collaboration, technology limitations, culture, mindset & leadership.