PROVIDENCE, RI - One change can create a ripple effect of improvements beyond its intended target. This is evident through United Natural Foods, Inc.’s (UNFI) implementation of an A.I.-powered robotic automation system in its soon-to-be-completed distribution center (DC) in Manchester, Pennsylvania. This system is manufactured by Symbotic, and is the second installation for UNFI and part of the company’s commitment to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of its distribution center network.

“We always want to make doing business with UNFI easier for our customers and suppliers, and that means investing in ways to make our supply chain more effective and efficient,” said Erin Horvath, UNFI’s Chief Operating Officer. “Automating key distribution centers, such as Centralia and our new facility in Manchester, will help us improve order accuracy and deliver a better overall customer experience, while also reducing operating cost. Symbotic has been a great partner and we’re pleased that the Centralia installation is on schedule, allowing us to begin implementation of our next automation system in Manchester.”

Through the system, the distributor hopes to improve quality and service to customers, increase capacity within its facilities, and lower overall costs to fulfill customer orders, a release stated.

UNFI’s new Manchester distribution center is a 1.3 million-square-foot facility set to come online in the summer of 2024 to improve existing customer experience and support new customer growth across the Northeast. Once completed, Symbotic’s end-to-end solution will provide robotic case pick capabilities in Manchester’s dry grocery area, improve order accuracy for customers, and automate the assembly of customer order pallets. It is expected to be fully operational by spring 2025.

The Symbotic warehouse automation system in Manchester DC is the same technology that is currently being used at UNFI’s distribution center in Centralia, Washington. The installation of the Centralia system is on track to become operational in the first half of 2024.

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