Alimerka automates fresh produce distribution with Cimcorp
Ulvila, Finland – 25 August 2020 – Cimcorp has received an order to automate the distribution of fresh produce for the regional Spanish grocery retailer, Alimerka. Robotic systems at the company’s Lugo de Llanera distribution center, just north of Oviedo, will serve all 173 of Alimerka’s stores across Northwest Spain, as well as another dozen or so customers of the group’s fresh produce distribution subsidiary, Codefrut.
Automation from Cimcorp will ensure availability across Alimerka’s fruit and vegetable product range, as well as security of supply to its retail stores. The company sets high standards of quality and service and demands the same from its suppliers. “We expect strict project management from Cimcorp in the implementation phase,” said Alimerka’s CEO, Alejandro Fernández González. “We’ve seen what the company has done for other grocery retailers, and that the Cimcorp team understands the challenges with fresh produce. We cannot have any delays due to disruption. Over 150,000 families a day rely on food being available in our stores.”
Cimcorp will supply automation for Alimerka’s distribution center in Lugo de Llanera © Alimerka
Family-owned Alimerka is a leading grocer in its home region of Asturias – where it has 1/3 market share – as well as in the neighboring regions of Galicia and Castile and León. According to Mr González, Alimerka has always taken pride in being an innovative company, committed to securing food production and therefore work opportunities in Asturias. “We have 6000 employees and we buy from local producers and farmers. Our commitment to the area is one of the reasons why our customers are loyal to us.”
Reliable and proven technology to maximize food freshness
Kai Tuomisaari, Cimcorp’s Vice President, Sales, said: “When dealing with food, and especially with perishable products, accuracy and reliability are essential. Everything has to be done quickly, as these products do not store well. The less time they spend in the distribution center, the sooner they are in stores and available to customers.”
No less than 120 tons of fresh produce pass through the Lugo de Llanera distribution center every day, six days a week, being handled in plastic crates to prevent bruising and ensure excellent quality from the field to the shelf. “With this automation, we want to ensure that there are no unscheduled stoppages,” explained Mr González. “Imagine if the automation didn’t work for one day: the stores would not receive fruit and vegetables, the produce in the logistics center would no longer be as fresh, and there wouldn’t be space for the 120 tons coming in the next day. We have to have a reliable solution so that the hard work, time and money invested in fresh produce doesn’t go to waste. This is why we have invested in fresh food automation from Cimcorp.”
Service agreement to guarantee longer system lifetime
To secure a longer lifecycle for the automation and avoid any unscheduled stoppages, Alimerka is also investing in preventive maintenance and 24/7 help desk support from Cimcorp. “Automation comes with a price tag,” commented Mr González, “but when you invest in high-quality automation, it ages well. Nevertheless, all automation has wearable parts that need to be replaced from time to time. Who better to maintain and repair the solution than the people who designed and installed it in the first place? Alimerka wants to get the most out of this investment, so we want to take care of it in order that it will last several decades.”
Cimcorp strengthens its presence in Spain
Commenting on the order, Jarkko Hakkarainen, General Manager of Cimcorp Iberia, said,
“We already have a strong customer base in Spain and established offices in Madrid, but this deal with Alimerka strengthens our profile in the country. It also proves Cimcorp’s growth strategy – that the decision to expand our presence into some of our key markets has paid off and that our comprehensive service network through our parent company, Murata Machinery, Ltd., is valued by both existing and new customers.”
About Alimerka
Established in 1986, Alimerka has grown to become a leading grocery retail group that today comprises three companies: Alimerka (grocery stores), Codefrut (fresh produce) and Masas Congeladas (bakery and pastries). The family-owned business has over 6000 employees and operates 173 stores, as well as a 108,000m2 distribution center in Lugo de Llanera. Codefrut places high value on local provenance, with 90% of the fresh produce it handles being Spanish and a high percentage of this originating in Asturias, with proximity of supply securing both freshness and environmental benefits through reduced transport miles.
About Cimcorp
Cimcorp Group – part of Murata Machinery, Ltd. (Muratec) – is a leading global supplier of turnkey automation for intralogistics, using advanced robotics, material handling and software technologies. As well as being a manufacturer and integrator of pioneering material handling systems for the tire industry, Cimcorp has developed unique robotic solutions for order fulfillment and storage for the food & beverage, retail, e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and postal services sectors. Together with its parent company, Cimcorp boasts a worldwide network of service locations. Designed to reduce operating costs, ensure traceability and improve efficiency, these systems are used within manufacturing and distribution centers in over 40 countries across six continents. For more information, visit www.cimcorp.com.
Company contact
Maarit Leppäaho
Cimcorp
Phone +358 10 2772 000
maarit.leppaaho@cimcorp.com
