VCM_022026_LR

PARTNERINFORMATIE

50 percent less workforce - 50 percent fewer truck trips 54,600 different dry, fresh, and frozen items Richard Kearns always knows how his supply chains, his new warehouse in Hernando, Mississippi, or his logistics processes are performing - because he receives immediate feedback every single day. As Execu tive Vice President of Distribution & Logistics at Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), he serves deman ding customers: the store operators are independent retailers who expect to be impressed by logistics per formance every day. This is made possible by a highly automated full-range logistics center, designed and implemented by WITRON, which supplies 3,400 stores with a portfolio of currently 54,600 different dry, fresh, and frozen items. The facility is designed for a daily picking capacity of more than 460,000 cases and ranks among the most innovative and high-performance logistics centers in the United States. The results achieved are impressive. Labor and transportation costs have been significantly reduced.

A WG is a member-owned coopera tive where 1,100 store owners ope rate more than 3,400 supermarkets across 33 U.S. states jointly gene rating over $25 billion in annual sales. Growth requires new stores, new cooperative members - and logistics has become a deci sive factor in deciding to join AWG. Unlike tra ditional U.S. retail corporations, every retailer here is both a member and an owner: All pro fits are returned to the members. “My team’s mission is to provide our members with all the tools, products, and services they need to be competitive in their respective markets

and to deliver outstanding consumer service - on time, in full, at the highest quality, and at the lowest cost,” explains Richard Kearns.

There was no way around automation

The demands placed on him and his team have been steadily increasing for years. In addition to growing product diversity and market volatility, the ongoing shortage of skilled workers in warehouse operations, rising transport costs, and stricter regulati ons are putting particular strain on the distri bution model. In response to this challenge, logistics plays an absolutely critical role in maintaining service levels while keeping

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VALUE CHAIN MANAGEMENT - JANUARI-FEBRUARI 2026