1717
with grocery shopping (93 percent), as a
result of mask mandates, or waiting in line
for the cashier, or merely by lack of social
distancing among other shoppers. That is
why we are now seeing click-and-collect
sales double in the USA (eMarketer, 2021)
and this trend will only accelerate beyond
the pandemic.
VERTICAL FARM AT THE SHOP PREMISES
To ease customers' struggles and concerns
around fresh produce and the ability to
purchase it online, Swisslog already
collaborates with partners operating in
indoor farming. Our vision is to build a
circular ecosystem comprising of rural
food pre-production sites at distribution
centers and networked indoor farms
attached to micro-fulfillment hubs in
dense urban areas. With this approach, we
can enable consumers to get hold of
high-quality fresh herbs and leafy greens,
and in the future, fruit and vegetables.
Swisslog believes that our product
portfolio and sustainable approach will
contribute to closing the 'food deserts',
enable urban populations to eat healthier
and reduce inefficiencies in the food
supply chain by shortening the last mile.
So, now imagine one more thing. Even if you
are living in a highly dense city, you can
compile your grocery basket via your phone,
and pick the vegetables and salads that were
grown in the indoor farm close to your
nearest grocery shop, or even attached to it.
One click on the 'add' button in your app will
automatically trigger the shears in the indoor
farm near to your micro-fulfillment center
and a basket with freshly cut tomatoes will
wait for you to pickup, or be delivered to your
doorstep within a few hours. Does that vision
resonate with you?
Discuss it with us if you like! >>
innovation@swisslog.com
Hungry for more?
See how we help our customers grow with new
MFC strategies >>
swisslog.com/EGrocery
Take a sneak peek at how retailers can change
the food supply chain >>
swisslog.com/VFDaily
Timo Landener, Head of Innovation
Management
Timo is married with three children.
He considers himself a futurist and
passionate mindset changer.
He drives Swisslog to be more future
resistant and climate friendly by
observing trends and acting upon them.
His motto is 'A conversation always
presupposes that the other person can
also be right.'
SUPPLYING SUSTAINABLE FOOD WITH AUTOMATION
SUPPLYING SUSTAINABLE FOOD WITH AUTOMATION
SUPPLYING SUSTAINABLE FOOD WITH AUTOMATION