FINLAND | Osuuskauppa Arina, a regional cooperative of the Finnish S Group, has decided to build a micro-fulfilment centre (MFC) in Oulu, in the region of North Ostrobothnia.
Previously, the Finnish S Group ordered one Centralised Fulfillment Centre (CFC) in Helsinki and an MFC in Tampere. The facility in Oulu will feature two AutoStore systems for ambient and chilled groceries, as well as manual floor-picking areas for fast-movers.
Frozen goods will be picked from the adjacent Prisma supermarket to maximise the efficiency of last-mile deliveries. The investment was made to meet the growing grocery e-commerce in the region and Finland.
“We know that our customers find that online shopping makes everyday life easier and frees up time for other things. This is why our online food sales continue to grow strongly in Oulu and the surrounding area. Since the beginning of 2024, the growth has been approximately 50 percent compared to the previous year,” said Mikko Polso, Director of the Supermarket Trade Division at Osuuskauppa Arina.
The automated MFC will enable reliable and fast deliveries to customers in the Oulu region while doubling the delivery capacity for online orders. The micro-fulfillment centre will be approximately 1,400 square meters and be equipped with 46 Redline AutoStore robots.
Swisslog's SynQ software will also support the entire solution. The facility has been expected to employ at least 25 to 30 people to handle piece picking and quality assurance of deliveries.
“The automated solutions and robotics reduce the need for our staff walking around the store collecting items. The change thus offers our customers in the store a more pleasant and spacious shopping experience.”
Installation in Oulu will begin in September 2025, with the facility expected to be fully operational by April 2026.
“We are delighted that Osuuskauppa Arina has chosen us as partner for their micro-fulfillment centre. This further strengthens our strong partnership with the S Group, " said Tero Mäki, AutoStore Sales Manager, Swisslog.
Swisslog has been delivering data-driven and robotic solutions for logistics automation alongside reliable, modular service concepts. Collaborating with forward-thinking companies, it has committed to setting new standards in warehouse automation to provide future-proof products and solutions.
