Supply Chain Analysis news

Albertsons has formed a strategic partnership with micro-fulfilment firm Takeoff Technologies, whereby the grocer is due to invest in additional micro-fulfilment centres (MFCs). Dedicated teams to enhance collaboration The partnership involves the creation of dedicated teams to collaborate on micro-fulfilment and “drive the future of e-commerce order fulfilment.” Takeoff’s automated and ...

Building on their existing collaboration, Kroger and Walgreens will join forces to source a number of products together, through a joint venture called Retail Procurement Alliance. Aim to deliver cost savings and increase efficiencies  By identifying any overlap in the products they both merchandise, the new group purchasing organisation (GPO) aims to increase purchasing efficiencies as the...

Walmart has teamed up with robotics startup Nuro to launch a pilot program that is aimed to test autonomous grocery delivery in Houston, Texas, over the next few months. The pilot to use R2 driverless vehicles The autonomous grocery delivery pilot will be using Nuro’s custom-built driverless and passenger-free delivery vehicle, called R2, in addition to its current fleet of autonomous Toyot...

In response to intense competition, where consumers are demanding more for less, several retailers have decided to streamline operations and reduce operating costs. One approach to support these objectives is to vertically integrate aspects of the supply chain. What’s vertical integration? Vertical integration is a strategic decision that sees a business take ownership of part, or the ent...

Ahold Delhaize USA is due to invest $480 million to transform and expand its supply chain operations on the U.S East coast. A fully integrated self-distribution model The aim of the three-year strategy is to shift the company’s U.S supply chain into a fully integrated, self-distribution model. Under the plan, Ahold Delhaize USA will acquire three distribution centres from C&S Wholesale Groc...

Coop Italia is teaming up with IBM to trace the supply chain of eggs sold under its private-label brand, Coop Vivi Verde, using blockchain technology. Visibility over 200 million eggs per year The solution relies on ‘Hyperledger Fabric’ technology, which is a framework of the Linux Foundation. It will allow full transparency and visibility over the various players involved in the production...

Woolworths, in collaboration with Queensland builder Spaceframe, have begun the expansion work of the existing Townsville Regional Distribution Centre (TDRC). Improving availability for North Queensland customers Upon conclusion of the expansion work, the site will more than double its original size, increasing to 10,000 square metres, hence becoming the largest food and grocery distributio...

M&S’s vertical farming partnership with Infarm has been extended to six further London stores. Fresh herbs now grown at seven London stores With the success of the Clapham Junction store trial, launched in September, the new roll out brings vertical farming to stores in Bromley, Ealing, Kensington, Marble Arch, Stratford and Kings Road.  The technology means fresh herbs can be grown an...

Wincanton, a logistics services provider, will continue to manage, for another three years, the storage and distribution of wines and spirits for Waitrose. Around 12.5 million cases each year Wincanton is due to handle the distribution of around 12.5 million cases, each year, to Waitrose’s supermarkets, service stations, and Waitrose Cellar as well. The two parties have collaborated for mor...

Dutch online supermarket Picnic has secured funds of 250 million euros to build a largely automated distribution centre in Utrecht. 42,000 square-metre site The 42,000 square-metre structure is set to be operational by the end of 2021.  It will provide storage for more than 200,000 crates and will be divided into three temperature zones.  Robotic trolleys to reduce carrying and lifting ...