German Grocery Retailer REWE Deploys Cimcorp Solution for New Automated Fulfillment Center
•February 17, 2026
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Why It Matters
The automation dramatically boosts supply‑chain reliability while addressing labor shortages and ergonomic challenges, directly enhancing store inventory freshness and customer satisfaction.
Key Takeaways
- •29k units processed daily via automated picking.
- •Serves 370 supermarkets, 580 stores in Berlin area.
- •WCS integrates robotics, conveyors, real-time inventory.
- •FIFO & FEFO ensure freshness and waste reduction.
- •Automation improves ergonomics, reduces overtime for staff.
Pulse Analysis
Fresh‑food logistics have long been a bottleneck for grocery chains, where product perishability and tight delivery windows demand precision. REWE’s decision to invest in a fully automated fulfillment center reflects a broader industry shift toward high‑speed, error‑free distribution. By locating the hub near Berlin, the retailer shortens last‑mile travel, cuts fuel costs, and positions itself to respond swiftly to fluctuating consumer demand, especially during peak seasons.
Cimcorp’s solution hinges on a sophisticated Warehouse Control System that synchronizes robotics, conveyors, and barcode scanning into a seamless workflow. The system enforces FIFO and FEFO principles, guaranteeing that the oldest or soon‑to‑expire items leave first, thereby minimizing waste and preserving quality. Real‑time inventory visibility enables dynamic workload balancing, while ergonomic stacking reduces manual handling. Handling 29,000 units per day, the center demonstrates how integrated software and hardware can achieve ultra‑fast order picking without sacrificing accuracy.
Beyond operational gains, the automation addresses a critical labor market challenge. Warehouse staff are freed from repetitive, physically demanding tasks, allowing them to focus on supervisory and value‑added roles. This shift not only improves employee satisfaction but also creates a more attractive workplace for a generation seeking technology‑enabled jobs. As retailers worldwide grapple with staffing constraints and sustainability pressures, REWE’s model showcases how advanced robotics can deliver both economic efficiency and a healthier work environment, setting a benchmark for future grocery fulfillment strategies.
German grocery retailer REWE deploys Cimcorp solution for new automated fulfillment center
Cimcorp, a provider of robotic handling solutions, announced today it has automated fresh food logistics operations for German grocery retailer REWE. Cimcorp has deployed an advanced logistics solution at REWE’s new automated fulfillment center for fresh produce, located in Oranienburg, Germany.
The facility is designed to handle the ultra-fast, error-free distribution of fruit and vegetables to over 370 supermarkets and 580 shops in the greater Berlin region. Cimcorp explained the systems deployed ensure unparalleled efficiency, reliability, and workplace wellbeing.
“In fresh food logistics, every minute counts and every delivery is critical,” said Matthias Menzel, General Manager at REWE’s Oranienburg Logistics Center. “Missing the delivery window means a significant financial loss. That’s why we invested in automation that delivers absolute reliability, real-time control, and the capacity to serve Berlin and the surrounding regions.”
The Oranienburg project showcases automated order picking and tailored to real-world retail demands, the Cimcorp. explained. Each day, around 29,000 units are handled by Cimcorp’s automated order-picking system, with seamless material flows governed by Cimcorp’s Warehouse Control System (WCS). This software manages everything from inbound barcode scanning and depalletizing, through inventory and picking, to precise outbound labeling and shipping.
“Our customers expect that our reliability increases every year,” said Menzel. “As stores learn that they can trust our deliveries, it brings improvement not just to our logistics, but right through to the customer experience in the store. We’re no longer fighting to fill overtime hours; instead, our staff are excited to work with new technology and see the benefits of automation in their daily roles.”
The functional backbone of the facility is Cimcorp’s WCS, which integrates robotics, conveyors, and detailed inventory management to ensure system-wide transparency.
The automated picking area uses both FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expired, First Out) principles, advanced workload balancing and stacking that takes both product and ergonomic requirements into account. Full traceability is guaranteed with every crate, stack, and pallet uniquely identified, scanned, and monitored from arrival to departure.
The more automated, ergonomic workflows are expected to help address labor availability challenges. "Cimcorp automation removes the daily strain from our teams,” Menzel continued. “With this solution, our people can focus on work that is safer, more rewarding, and less exhausting. Automation both addresses real ergonomic and labor challenges for warehouse staff and creates a modern, attractive workplace with more sustainable jobs and less physical strain.”
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