Automation Expands Across Every Part of the Grocery Supply Chain

This week in grocery, ShopRite increases the scope of its inventory robotics test, United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) gears up for a new automation-powered distribution center, and autonomous delivery expands.

Wakefern Food Corp., parent company of several supermarket chains, announced Aug. 17 that it is expanding its test of Simbe Robotics’ automated shelf-scanning inventory management insights robots, dubbed Tally, to more of its ShopRite stores.

“Tally has proven to be the ideal shelf-intelligence solution for our members as it’s been able to roll right into our technology ecosystem, sending real-time shelf condition data directly to retail associates’ handheld devices,” Wakefern Vice President of Technology, Innovation and Strategy Charles J. McWeeney said in a statement.

He added that these robots provide employees with “timely, consistent and accurate product data,” boosting efficiency.

Up-to-date inventory management can be key to consumer loyalty. According to research from PYMNTS’ study “Big Retail’s Innovation Mandate: Convenience and Personalization,” created in collaboration with ACI Worldwide, 35% of grocers said consumers would be very or extremely likely to switch merchants if not provided with automatic real-time inventory status notifications.

Additionally, data from PYMNTS’ Decoding Customer Affinity study, created in collaboration with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, noted that 51% of shoppers said ensuring that the grocery products they want are in stock and available for purchase is key to guaranteeing their loyalty to merchants.

UNFI Breaks Ground on New Automated Facility

Automation is taking over every part of the grocery supply chain.

Grocery wholesaler UNFI shared Aug. 17 that it broke ground on a new distribution center near Sarasota, Florida, that will be equipped with up-to-date technology. The facility will take the place of an older, outdated warehouse in the area.

“Distribution is our core business, so when we build a new distribution center, we want to incorporate as much automation and technology as possible to improve our ability to service our customers while simultaneously lowering our costs to do so,” UNFI Chief Operating Officer Erin Horvath said in a statement.

The news comes as, across the supply chain, those in the grocery industry look for ways to boost efficiency, with the past couple years’ food inflation having put pressure on margins.

Robotic Grocery Delivery Expands to Peachtree Corners, Georgia

Grocery delivery is also getting the automated treatment.

Peachtree Corners, a city in the Atlanta metropolitan area with a focus on technology and innovation, announced Tuesday (Aug. 22) that autonomous delivery company Clevon is bringing its robots, powered by T-Mobile, to the area’s Curiosity Lab “living laboratory” to serve as couriers for groceries, restaurant food, retail items and more.

“A future-forward environment like this — complete with city-owned smart infrastructure, T-Mobile’s best-in-class network and opportunities to interact with connected vehicles and people and businesses — is invaluable to our continued efforts to optimize autonomous robot carrier operation, including how they will navigate through real-world situations,” Clevon CEO Sander Sebastian Agur said in a statement.

Notably, consumers overall are not sold on these kinds of delivery robots. Data from PYMNTS’ exclusive report “Connected Dining: The Robot Will Take Your Order Now” revealed that 71% of respondents reported being uninterested in robotics or automated systems delivering food.

Among those who have no interest in the technology, 73% listed concerns about job loss and the lack of personal interaction, 65% reported having worries about reliability and order accuracy, and 1 in 3 were disturbed by potential consequences for privacy, security and safety.