Uniserve has been shortlisted for the prestigious BIFA European Logistics Forwarder of the Year Award. The award recognises its innovative approach to overcoming European transport disruption and strengthening supply chain resilience through its European logistics division, UniEurope.
The nomination celebrates Uniserve‘s successful redesign of a major UK grocery retailer’s Italian import supply chain. It protected the movement of approximately 2,000 containers annually despite widespread disruption across the European rail network.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, rail infrastructure works, industrial action, equipment shortages and capacity restrictions created significant challenges for European freight movements. As the retailer relied heavily on rail services to transport wine, beer and spirits from Italy, Uniserve’s UniEurope division identified the need for a more resilient logistics solution.
Taking a proactive approach, UniEurope developed an alternative short-sea freight route. This route connects La Spezia in Italy with London Gateway in the UK. Working closely with transport partners, the team successfully transitioned volumes to the new corridor. As a result, it reduced dependency on disrupted rail services. At the same time, they maintained competitive transit times, reliable capacity and supply chain continuity.
The solution successfully protected the retailer’s flow of imported products. It also minimised disruption risks and created a more flexible, sustainable long-term transport model.
This BIFA shortlisting recognises Uniserve’s ability to combine strategic supply chain expertise with operational excellence, demonstrating how its specialist divisions, including UniEurope, deliver innovative solutions that help customers navigate complex logistics challenges and build more resilient supply chains.
Find out more about Uniserve’s European logistics solutions here.