A strategic partnership with Solwr brings robotic automation to the international SPAR retail network, boosting operational efficiency and improving safety conditions across the warehouse floor.

SPAR International and Solwr entered into a strategic partnership agreement to modernise warehouse operations across the worldwide SPAR network. Already active across SPAR country organisations in Norway and the United Kingdom, the partnership reflects a shared ambition to bring greater efficiency to daily operations and improve working conditions across the warehouse.

“A key objective is to support our SPAR country organisations through collaboration with suppliers that can support ongoing warehouse modernisation initiatives, enhancing employee tasks, and reducing challenges arising from labour shortages,” commented Tom Rose, Head of Operations, SPAR International.

Modernising grocery distribution

This agreement between the two companies includes the full product and service range, including Solwr’s mobile picking robot Grab™.

With its near plug-and-play capabilities, Grab™ is ideal for automating existing manual warehouse operations. It works alongside operators, autonomously picking items, including heavy cases up to 30 kg, directly from pick locations to pallets or roll cages, without requiring changes to existing warehouse infrastructure. The result is less heavy lifting, fewer strain injuries, and greater operational efficiency and reliability.

Proven results across the SPAR network

The partnership builds on an established track record within the SPAR retail network, where Solwr and the Grab™ mobile picking robot already operate at four distribution sites: three with ASKO, distributor partner of SPAR Norway, and one with James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR UK’s regional wholesaler for Northern England.

Fewer strain injuries: ASKO Rogaland, Norway

ASKO Rogaland operates a semi-automated regional warehouse in Norway, distributing to around 1,260 stores. A significant rise in strain injuries from heavy picking of brewery products prompted the warehouse to seek new solutions.

A fleet of Grab™ robots was deployed, with results exceeding expectations. With the implementation of Grab™, the daily load per employee was reduced by more than 1 tonne, absenteeism by 50%, and manual throughput by 10%, with further gains expected as the fleet grows.

“Grab™ is key to succeeding with our ambitions of reducing weight picked by operators. Solwr is the only company offering a reliable mobile picking robot, and we have already achieved a lot, with further expansions planned,” stated Svein Kåre Aakre, Automation Manager, ASKO Rogaland

Scaling automation without rebuilding: James Hall & Co. Ltd, United Kingdom

James Hall & Co. Ltd is a Lancashire-based family business, founded in 1863, and the primary wholesaler for SPAR in Northern England, serving approximately 600 stores. James Hall & Co. Ltd selected Grab™ as part of their strategy to automate parts of the supply chain. The robot works within their existing racked warehouse infrastructure, autonomously picking orders including heavy grocery cases, removing the most physically demanding aspects of the job for their warehouse team.

“The partnership with Solwr is a direct result of the desire to automate parts of the supply chain, but also a strong belief in Solwr’s products and solutions. Solwr is, to our knowledge, the only innovator in the market to produce such a product, and it was an exciting and easy decision to become a partner,” said Anthony Barton, Operations Director, James Hall & Co. Ltd.

Modernising warehouse operations across Europe

The global agreement between Solwr and SPAR International will initially focus on European markets, where labour shortages, high costs, and physically demanding warehouse operations make the case for automation particularly strong.

Partnering with SPAR International is a major milestone for Solwr. SPAR country organisations’ distribution network is exactly the environment Grab was built for – high-volume operations where the wellbeing of the people doing the work and the efficiency of the warehouse go hand in hand. The results at the SPAR organisations in Norway and the UK show what we can achieve together, and we look forward to bringing that same impact to distribution centres across Europe,” said Torbjørn Krogen, CEO, Solwr Robotics.

Source: Solwr