C-StoreMaster officially opened its 130,000-square-foot automated warehouse with a celebration attended by leaders in the convenience store industry and the city of Huntsville. To honor the warehouse opening and C-StoreMaster’s dedication to advancing technology in Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed Dec. 8 as Technology Innovation Day. The new warehouse has created 30 jobs as the company rapidly expands distribution throughout the country.
“To bring the first multi-level shuttle system of its kind in the country to Huntsville is a great accomplishment for our team,” Sharan Kalva, C-StoreMaster president. “Innovation has always been at the forefront of our business and with this new warehouse, C-StoreMaster is set up for success for years to come.”
C-StoreMaster partnered with Geek+ to incorporate three automation technologies in the new warehouse, improving picking accuracy to 99.99 percent. The robotic solutions include Geek+’s flagship P800 goods-to-person picking robots as well as its award-winning Roboshuttle.
“By implementing the robotic system, C-StoreMaster has increased their picking productivity by three to four times,” said Rick DeFiesta, executive vice president of sales and solutions at Geek+. “As the company continues to experience impressive growth, our cutting-edge system will help them provide even faster service for their customers.”
When designing the warehouse, C-StoreMaster kept employees top of mind. The robotic solutions eliminate the need to walk long distances or lift heavy goods for order fulfillment. Additionally, the warehouse includes areas that foster a great work environment to empower employees. A workout area, pool table, air hockey, walking track and a bean-to-cup coffee offering are available to meet employees’ needs and show them they’re a priority for the company to invest in.
Specializing in the tobacco and beverage categories, C-StoreMaster services 4,500+ independent c-stores and 6,000+ chain stores throughout the country.