Food and automated storage systems are coming together. AutoStore AS today said that it has chosen StrongPoint ASA to install its first system designed for food management. It includes three temperature zones: ambient, chilled, and now frozen. StrongPoint is AutoStore’s first and only grocery-focused distribution partner.
“This is a great day for grocery retailers and food management companies looking at automation to boost efficiency, as they can now automate all three temperature zones,” stated Jacob Tveraabak, CEO of StrongPoint. “We are proud to have the honor of installing a world first for AutoStore and look forward to leveraging our 35+ years’ experience in food management and grocery retail to create the world’s first and best fully automated solution purpose built for groceries.”
StrongPoint said it provides end-to-end, e-commerce fulfilment technologies and in-store systems to leading grocery retailers across Europe. Its offerings include automation, in-store picking, “dark store” picking, home delivery, click-and-collect grocery lockers, in-store pickup and drive-thru.
The Raelingen, Norway-based company has more than 500 employees across Europe and the U.K., as well as a wide partner network supporting businesses in more than 20 countries. StrongPoint reported revenue of about 1 billion NOK ($95 million U.S.).
AutoStore develops cold storage
Founded in 1996, AutoStore said it is a pioneer in cube storage automation. The company said it focuses on combining “software and hardware with human abilities to create the future of warehousing.” AutoStore works with qualified systems-integrator partners and has more than 950 automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) installed in over 45 countries.
The company recently developed a system to automate the storage and retrieval of frozen items. Previously, its ASRS had only two temperature zones—chilled and ambient. Most grocery retailers have been using manual picking for frozen items when automating their e-grocery fulfilment services.
AutoStore said its grid can be installed in multiple discrete temperature zones ranging down to sub-zero temperatures (-25°C / -13°F). It allows both fresh and frozen goods to be picked from the chilled-temperature zone (2°C / 35.6°F).
StrongPoint to build grid for DLVRY local network
StrongPoint plans to design and install the AutoStore system for food distribution company DLVRY in a facility in Sveio, Norway. In addition to increasing efficiency, the addition of frozen items into the AutoStore grid can result in substantial energy savings, said the companies. They said they expect this installation to result in approximately 30% reduction in energy costs.
“Food management is so different to any other retail segment,” said Jan Frode Johansen, co-founder and CEO of DLVRY. “We wanted to ensure we had access to a team that really understood our unique challenges, which is why we decided to work with StrongPoint.”
“We are especially proud we are the world’s first company to use AutoStore’s frozen-food capabilities, as it means we can achieve much higher efficiency rates by automating what was until now not possible,” he said.
Created in 2021 by the combination of five regional players, Oslo, Norway-based DLVRY serves local and regional catering clients through multiple branches.
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