German Food retailer Edeka is launching a project to future-proof and sustainably modernize its logistics processes. At the end of December 2025, it signed a contract for the design and implementation of a new, highly automated central distribution centre in Melsungen, Germany. Starting in mid-2029, the facility will supply more than 500 stores with a dry goods assortment of up to 16,500 items. This makes Hessenring the fifth EDEKA region to rely on WITRON’s industry expertise. In addition, NETTO – a subsidiary – already operates WITRON solutions at several of its sites.
“Until now, the Hessenring region has relied exclusively on manual warehouse and picking processes”, explains Martin Steinmetz, Logistics Director at EDEKA Hessenring. “By leveraging innovative automated logistics technology, we will in future be able to supply our independent retailers more efficiently and cost-effectively – even as the variety of items continues to grow. At the same time, our employees throughout the entire supply chain will benefit from ergonomic and sustainable working processes.”
High-performance module mix
The 35,300 square metre facility, offering a total of 306,000 pallet, tray, and tote storage locations and equipped with 58 highly dynamic stacker cranes, is designed for a daily picking performance of 285,500 cases. Most of these cases are stacked fully automatically, error‑free, and store‑friendly onto pallets and roll containers by 18 COM machines. Small-volume fast- and slow-moving items are picked directly into the shipping tote at 10 workstations using the All-in-One (AIO) system. Bulky items are picked by logistics employees using pick-by-voice, supported by the semi-automated WITRON Car Picking System (CPS). Subsequent consolidation – and thus a high packing density on the load carriers – is achieved through the conveyor-based integration of all logistics areas within the material flow concept.
Half and quarter pallets are placed fully automatically onto pallets and roll containers by the WITRON Display Pallet Picking System (DPP). The dispatch process is optimized by a fully automated shipping buffer.
No more silos, but a true end-to-end approach
An intelligent IT platform ensures the seamless networking of all processes across the internal and external value added chain, providing high process flexibility in real time. The focus is on a holistic, end‑to‑end approach that encompasses all stakeholders within the supply chain – from supplier to end consumer – thereby eliminating isolated silos.
High in-house value-added share
Most of the mechanical, conveyor, racking, and mezzanine components are designed by WITRON and manufactured in-house at the company’s production facilities in Parkstein. The same applies to the IT, control, and AI tools used.
A partnership spanning decades
EDEKA and WITRON share a partnership that has grown over many decades. Automated solutions have already been successfully implemented in Hamm / Oberhausen (Rhine-Ruhr region), Landsberg (southern Bavaria region), Zarrentin / Neumünster (northern region), Berbersdorf / Marktredwitz (northern Bavariy, Saxony, Thuringia region), as well as in the NETTO distribution centres in Erharting and Henstedt.
