Optimizing order flows —
24 hours from field to store

Mercadona partnered with Cimcorp to implement an automated intralogistics system at its distribution center in San Isidro, Spain. The goal was to guarantee the freshness of perishable fruit and vegetables by shortening lead times in the warehouse to extend shelf life.

Mercadona, the leading supermarket chain in Spain, has stores in all 17 regions across the country. In 2022, they had over one quarter of the country’s grocery retailers market share. They excel in providing quality groceries and household essentials with commitment to customer satisfaction.

The most significant advantage is reducing errors to guarantee a better service for our stores and customers.

Javier Blasco, Logistics Solutions Purchasing Manager for Mercadona

Fresh fruit and vegetables can only stay fresh for a limited time, and if there are any delays in delivering them, they can spoil or lose their nutritional value.

Mercadona aims to guarantee the freshness of perishable fruit and vegetables for its customers. One of the best ways of doing this is by reducing the lead time in its warehouses, thereby extending the shelf life of its products.

With a commitment to providing high-quality produce and exceptional value for customers, Mercadona sought to optimize its order flows and minimize food waste.

The grocery industry is extremely competitive, as shoppers change consuming habits fast and change stores even faster. Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality, fresh produce in less time.

Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at Cimcorp

Cimcorp’s automation solution secures many benefits for Mercadona, including fresher produce, less waste and a safer workplace. By leveraging automatic storage, handling and order-picking capabilities in different temperature zones, Cimcorp’s system has streamlined processes and reduced order-processing time significantly.

Modular control architecture

The solution utilizes sophisticated and integrated software for data tracking, tracing and management, ensuring efficient operations throughout the supply chain.

Cimcorp designed modular control architecture that provides the agility and flexibility needed to handle unpredictability in consumer demand. With work in the DC divided into sections but controlled by one integrated management solution, all units can work in synchronization and meet Mercadona’s desired growth targets.

Maximum output capacity, improved quality

This modular approach has enabled scalability and standardized processes across multiple locations for Mercadona, enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating knowledge transfer among staff.

Furthermore, by relying on robotics to automate repetitive tasks, Cimcorp’s solution has reduced costs, enhanced employee productivity and minimized errors in the delivery process. With robots taking care of the heavy lifting and order fulfillment automated, the solution ensures maximum output capacity, improved quality and increased productivity for Mercadona’s staff.

The benefits of order fulfillment process

Cimcorp’s intralogistics solution has revolutionized Mercadona’s order fulfillment process, enabling the delivery of fresh and seasonal produce to stores within 24 hours.

By reducing lead times and optimizing order flows, Mercadona has successfully extended shelf life for its perishable goods, reducing food waste and enhancing the overall customer experience.

Cimcorp’s modular automation design process – combined with reliable and seamless storage, picking and retrieval processes – has delivered operational reliability and guaranteed service to Mercadona’s stores.

The successful collaboration between Cimcorp and Mercadona demonstrates the potential of automation for transforming the food supply chain and ensuring sustainable growth in the grocery retail industry.