Mercadona to automate fresh food distribution at four DCs

Manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic handling solutions Cimcorp will deliver the automated technology at the four DCs, which will serve over 600 of the retailer’s 1630 supermarkets.

“The main objective of these four centres,” explained Javier Blasco, warehouse purchasing coordinator for Mercadona, “will be to meet the demands of our stores, secure growth in perishable product sales and eliminate the overexertion that results from the manual handling of orders.”

System integrator
Cimcorp previously supplied automation to Mercadona back in 2013, when it implemented a fully automated order picking system for fresh produce at the retailer’s DC in Guadix, near Granada. However the new order will be the first time that Cimcorp has acted as system integrator. 

Javier Blasco continues: “Our previous experience with Cimcorp was positive, and the company’s professionalism – along with the support of a strong parent company like Murata Machinery – has led us to put our trust in Cimcorp as a partner for a project of this scale.”

Modular design
All four of the new logistics facilities will have two climate zones for fresh food: +3°C for packed meat products and +12°C for fruit and vegetables. “This order will cover several independent automation modules within each DC,” added Kai Tuomisaari, “and all the automation will be controlled by Cimcorp software, which integrates various technologies into a seamless system. If one module is out of operation for a while – such as when cleaning is performed – the others continue in operation to take care of the material flow.”

The DCs are located in Huévar (Seville), Sagunto (Valencia), San Isidro (Alicante) and Zaragoza.

Kai Tuomisaari, Cimcorp’s VP sales, said: “We provide reliable intralogistics solutions for rapid order fulfillment, and thereby optimise product shelf life. This means that customers get their fruit, vegetables and other fresh products faster, ensuring they stay fresh for longer in the home. We are delighted to be working with Mercadona again,” he continued. “There is an excellent spirit of partnership, open communication and mutual trust between our two companies.”