New containers will help CN convert more truck traffic to rail
intermodal door-to-door service
TORONTO, April 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CN (TSX: CNR)
(NYSE: CNI) announced today the acquisition of more than 1,000 new
domestic containers to better serve manufacturers and distributors
of grocery and consumer goods in domestic markets across Canada and
grow the railway's participation in the segment.
Roughly 80 per cent of the new containers are heated, ensuring
year-round quality service for temperature-sensitive goods; the
balance of the boxes are standard dry containers.
Jean-Jacques Ruest, executive
vice-president and chief marketing officer of CN, said: "CN's
intermodal service is more cost effective than truck while offering
customers truck-like transit times and a lower carbon footprint. CN
has established a growing business transporting
temperature-sensitive goods in long-haul markets across Canada. Our
continued investment in infrastructure will benefit the reliability
of the supply chains of our grocery, consumer goods and
manufacturing customers. Together, we want to grow with them."
Approximately 540 containers will be used to renew CN's domestic
container fleet, while another 520 new containers will increase
CN's overall domestic container fleet to almost 6,000 units.
Craig McLaughlin, vice-president,
supply chain, for Kraft Canada, said: "At Kraft Canada, it is
important that we work with suppliers capable of investing in their
infrastructure in support of enhancing service and enabling our
growth. CN's continuing effort to listen to us as a valued customer
and taking action is a key component of the foundation for our
strong partnership."
Tim Epplett, supply chain manager
- traffic for Heinz Canada, said:
"Heinz welcomes CN's investment in new heated equipment. This will
certainly make load planning easier for us knowing that CN can
provide us with more containers to send to our valuable customers
during seasons requiring heated equipment."
Jens Grellmann, manager,
transportation services for Hopewell Distribution Services Inc.,
which handles warehousing and distribution for Campbell Company of
Canada, said: "CN's acquisition of a significant number of
additional containers, specifically heated equipment, will help our
supply chain. The new containers will improve equipment supply,
allow us to achieve many of our cost-saving initiatives and
generate growth opportunities for both companies."
CN's domestic intermodal business is focused on delivering
truck-competitive, cost-effective service. CN Intermodal offers
shippers an approximate 24-hour rail advantage from central Canada
to Western Canada. At the same
time, CN Intermodal is competitive with single-truck-driver service
between central Canada and Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver markets. Additionally, CN offers the
only rail service option from Montreal to Halifax.
Ruest said: "CN is committed to working with its customers to
improve the efficiency of their supply chains. Through investment,
innovation and collaboration, CN seeks to help its customers
compete better in their end markets and to share in the success of
their growing businesses."
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information included in this news release constitutes
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under
Canadian securities laws. CN cautions that, by their nature, these
forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and
assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not
materialize and that current economic conditions render such
assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made,
subject to greater uncertainty. Such forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results of performance of the Company or the rail industry to be
materially different from the outlook or any future results or
performance implied by such statements. Important factors that
could affect the above forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, the effects of general economic and business
conditions, industry competition, inflation, currency and interest
rate fluctuations, changes in fuel prices, legislative and/or
regulatory developments, compliance with environmental laws and
regulations, actions by regulators, various events which could
disrupt operations, including natural events such as severe
weather, droughts, floods and earthquakes, labor negotiations and
disruptions, environmental claims, uncertainties of investigations,
proceedings or other types of claims and litigation, risks and
liabilities arising from derailments, and other risks detailed from
time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in
Canada and the United States.
Reference should be made to "Management's Discussion and Analysis"
in CN's annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and
Form 40-F filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators,
available on CN's website, for a summary of major risks.
CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking
statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or
changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable Canadian
securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking
statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional
updates with respect to that statement, related maters, or any
other forward-looking statement.
CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway
subsidiaries - spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans to the Gulf of
Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince
Rupert, B.C., Montreal,
Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas
of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth,
Minn./Superior, Wis.,
Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St.
Louis, and Jackson, Miss.,
with connections to all points in North
America. For more information on CN, visit the company's
website at www.cn.ca.
Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft
Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is a global snacks powerhouse with an
unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. Proudly marketing
delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery
products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft
Foods had 2010 revenue of $49.2
billion, more than half of which was earned outside
North America. Eleven of the
company's iconic brands - including Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU,
Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar
Mayer, Philadelphia and
Trident - generate revenue of more than $1
billion annually, and 40 have been loved for more than a
century. A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness
and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones
Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones
Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. For more
information, visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com and
www.facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate. In Canada, company brands
include Kraft Dinner macaroni and cheese, Christie cookies and
crackers, Kool-Aid and Del Monte
beverages, Caramilk chocolate, Maynards candy, and Stride and
Dentyne gum.
Established over 100 years ago in 1909, Heinz Canada is the leading processor and
marketer of high-quality ketchup and condiments, infant foods,
pasta sauces, canned beans and pasta, and specialty sauces and
salad dressings through all retail and foodservice channels. With a
host of favourite brands, including Heinz(R), Chef Francisco(R),
Richardson(R), Classico(R), Bagel
Bites(R), HP Sauce(R), Lea & Perrins(R), Renée's Gourmet(R),
Diana(R), Arthur's Fresh(R), and Weight Watchers(R)* Smart Ones(R),
Heinz Canada employs more than 1,200
people across the country. Heinz
Canada is a division of the H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ)
based in Pittsburgh, Pa. For more
information about Heinz Canada
products, please visit our websites: Heinz.com;
Foodservice.heinz.ca and Heinzitup.com. * Weight Watchers on foods
and beverages is the registered trademark of WW Foods, LLC and is
used under license.
Hopewell Distribution Services's supply chain services group was
established in 1996 with the vision of creating campus style
distribution centers offering a blend of physical distribution
services, information management services, logistics support
services and facility development services designed specifically
for manufacturers of packaged consumer goods who wish to maximize
the efficiency of their distribution networks. The company has
grown from a cold start in 1996 to design, build and operate
approximately 1.6 million square feet in Brampton, Ont., where it now offers national
distribution packages to many common household consumer brands. In
addition to its Brampton Distribution Campus, Hopewell also operates in Calgary, Alta., and Vancouver, B.C.
SOURCE CN