AhorraMás
& TGW Logistics
It’s Possible: Revolutionizing Grocery Logistics for AhorraMás
Project motivation: Fresh goods
AhorraMás, a prominent name in Spain's grocery retail market since 1979, has always been driven by a mission to provide its customers with fresh, high-quality products. With around 260 supermarkets in the Madrid area, their reputation as a 'neighborhood supermarket' rests on keeping shelves stocked with goods at peak quality. However, as the demand for fresh food increased, so did the complexity of their supply chain. Managing thousands of refrigerated and frozen products requires a robust logistics solution that maintains quality while scaling to meet growing demand. TGW Logistics stepped in, offering an automated fulfillment center to streamline AhorraMás' operations and optimize their grocery logistics.
Overcoming the Challenges of Grocery Retail
Every day, AhorraMás coordinates the movement of thousands of refrigerated and frozen products from their central distribution center to stores throughout Madrid. Making sure these goods arrive fresh and on time is no small feat. Speed and quality are table stakes in grocery logistics - especially when dealing with perishable items.
Before partnering with TGW Logistics, AhorraMás faced significant hurdles in maintaining short lead times and ensuring temperature control across their entire supply chain. They needed a system that could handle the complexity without compromising the quality of the goods. The scale of their operations added another layer of difficulty:
- Total storage locations: 50,200
- Automatic mini-load warehouse locations: 41,000
- Frozen pallet warehouse locations: 4,500
- Refrigerated pallet warehouse locations: 4,700
- Throughput performance: 28,000 cartons per day
- Roll containers handled daily: Approximately 700
A Future-Proof Fulfillment Center for AhorraMás
Because fresh food is the backbone of AhorraMás’ business, processing and delivering goods with incredible speed and excellent quality is a necessity. At the heart of the updated fulfillment center is a system that enables rapid order picking and seamless integration with AhorraMás' comprehensive logistics services. It starts at goods receipt, where refrigerated and frozen goods are temporarily stored in high-bay warehouses before processing. Our automated technology facilitates careful handling of the products and dispatches them as quickly as possible to avoid any loss of freshness.
The order picking process is where the true magic happens. Our Natrix Sorter can process up to 7,000 cartons per hour so that even at peak times, AhorraMás can fulfill its orders efficiently. The system handles everything from small cartons to larger trays, sorting them according to store orders and keeping the cold chain intact.
How Our Automated System Transforms Grocery Logistics
For AhorraMás, our solution has been a game-changer. It covers every aspect of their logistics process, from goods receipt and storage to order picking and outbound shipping.
Cold Storage Solutions: Automating for the Future
One of the standout features of the AhorraMás fulfillment center is its ability to handle frozen goods with the same speed and efficiency as refrigerated products. TGW Logistics’ automatic mini-load warehouses withstand extreme temperatures, operating efficiently in environments as cold as -23° C. Even at these temperatures, the frozen goods picked and stored won't degrade in quality. Our Mustang SRMs (Storage and Retrieval Machines) operate with incredible precision, retrieving products with a snap and maintaining the required high throughput. With this level of automation, AhorraMás can handle approximately 700 roll containers per day, delivering fresh and frozen products to its stores with minimal lead times.
It’s Possible to Transform Grocery Logistics with Us
By partnering with TGW Logistics, AhorraMás revolutionized its fulfillment operations. Their improved automated distribution center allowed AhorraMás to overcome significant logistical challenges—from managing short lead times to maintaining temperature control across its supply chain. Today, AhorraMás delivers fresh, high-quality products to its customers every day, thanks to our innovative automation solutions.
Contact us today.
Michael Schedlbauer
Vice President Business Development Grocery
TGW Logistics is a foundation-owned company headquartered in Austria and a global leader in warehouse automation and warehouse logistics. As a trusted systems integrator with more than 50 years of experience, we deliver end-to-end services: designing, implementing, and maintaining fulfillment centers powered by mechatronics, robotics, and advanced software solutions. With over 4,500 employees spanning Europe, Asia, and North America, we combine expertise, innovation, and a customer-centric dedication to help keep your business growing. With TGW Logistics, it's possible to transform your warehouse logistics into a competitive advantage.
