In context
In mid-2024, European grocery retailers were accelerating warehouse automation to address labor shortages and streamline supply chains. Carrefour's transformation plan aimed to modernize its logistics network, and the inauguration of its Bourges platform on May 28, 2024, marked a key step in that effort.
What was reported
Carrefour entrusted Fives, an industrial engineering group with over 50 years in intralogistics, to automate the order-picking cell of its new platform in Bourges, France. The 66,000 sq m facility is divided into 11 cells, with the fresh produce cell—covering fruits, vegetables, seafood, grocery, and brewery—designed by Fives to serve nearly 100 Carrefour Hypermarkets and Markets across 11 departments.
The system uses Fives' proprietary warehouse management and execution software (WMS/WES) to minimize picking errors, especially critical for fresh produce and multi-pallet orders. A high-capacity GENI-Belt cross-belt sorter, fed by three injection lines, sorts up to 8,500 parcels per hour to 100 ramps, boosting overall plant performance and product availability.
Fives also emphasized ergonomic improvements: less physical effort, movement, and handling reduce worker strain and noise levels. Yemna Akbache, general manager of Fives Syleps, noted that a tailor-made approach best meets customer needs, citing the Bourges platform as an example of listening to supply chain players.
Why it mattered
This project highlighted the growing role of integrated automation in grocery distribution, particularly for fresh produce where speed and accuracy are challenging. Fives' track record—15 similar platforms in France, 10 since 2021—underscored a trend toward replicable, high-throughput sorting solutions that address labor issues while improving operational reliability.
“As a designer and integrator of automation and robotics solutions, we are convinced that a personalized, tailor-made approach is the best way to meet our customers’ needs.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2024-06-02 · “Fives automates Carrefour’s order picking platform in Bourges”