H Mart, the largest Asian supermarket chain in the U.S., today announced that plans to open a fully automated micro-fulfillment center in Carlstadt, N.J., to support its online grocery operations. The company is partnering with robotics provider AutoStore and integrator Bastian Solutions to upgrade its order-fulfillment capabilities.
H Mart started in 1982 with a single store in Woodside, Queens, N.Y., and has grown to more than 97 stores across the U.S. The Lyndhurst, N.J.-based company offers both Asian and Western foods and is also known for its food halls. The National Retail Federation has recognized H Mart in its list of “Hot 100 Retailers,” and Supermarket News has listed it as one of the “Top 50 Small Chains and Independents” in the U.S. and Canada.
E-grocery surge leads to micro-fulfillment
Until now, H Mart's order-fulfillment operation was in-house and used various ground carriers. The company said the surge in online ordering during the COVID-19 pandemic drove it to find partners to help it satisfy consumer orders.
“Hmart.com has proven to be an important offering to our customers,” said Vince Colatriano, executive vice president of H Mart. “We’ve partnered with the best automated technology in the field to fulfill our orders quickly and efficiently.”
Founded 1996, AutoStore created cube storage automation, which it claims is the densest and one of the fastest order-fulfillment solutions in existence. The Nedre Vats, Norway-based company has more than 600 systems installed by qualified partners in 35 countries. AutoStore has combined robotics and warehouse management system (WMS) technologies. It added that its micro-fulfillment center (MFC) offering can increase efficiency for a broad range of packaged goods along with fresh and frozen groceries while “delivering a best-in-class customer experience.”
AutoStore said its MFC is flexible, scalable, and can even be installed at the back of a store. This enables retailers to reduce the average distance between a center and their customers, allowing for both in-store pickup and rapid home delivery. The company noted that robotics can optimize storage density, operator productivity, and lead times, which are critical in e-grocery.
Bastian to aid AutoStore deployment at H Mart
Bastian Solutions is a Toyota Advanced Logistics company that designs and delivers distribution and production systems. The integrator said it combines data-driven designs, scalable materials handling systems, and software to help clients across a broad spectrum of markets.
“As a global partner, we’ve worked on numerous installations that are successfully operating with the award-winning AutoStore system,” stated Aaron Jones, president of Bastian Solutions. “We look forward to integrating AutoStore’s robotics and e-grocery WMS with H Mart’s operations for faster order fulfillment and increased customer satisfaction.”
“We’re excited to work with Bastian Solutions in providing H Mart a solution that gives them greater operational efficiency and order accuracy, so customers receive exactly what they ordered,” said Mike Demko, the head of AutoStore’s MFC business line.
“Projects like these will change retail forever, and we are very pleased that H Mart chose AutoStore and Bastian Solutions to deliver the future of e-grocery,” said Karl Johan Lier, CEO of AutoStore.
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