BOSTON, Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Takeoff Technologies, an eGrocery solution that empowers retailers to attain profitable online growth by leveraging automation at a hyperlocal scale, today announced the launch of the first automated hyperlocal fulfillment center, referred to as the world's first robotic supermarket in partnership with one of the largest Hispanic grocers in the U.S., Sedano's Supermarkets.
This groundbreaking technology is expected to launch in the upcoming month, bringing innovative automation and transforming eGrocery economics. Customer orders will be placed via an online app and carried out by Takeoff's automated Micro-Fulfillment Center, with the support of Sedano's employees. AI-enabled robots assemble full supermarket orders of up to 60 items in just a few minutes – a fraction of the speed and cost of current manual picking options.
"Grocers have been dipping their toes in eGroceries for years. Now it's time to jump in with both feet," said Jose Vicente Aguerrevere, co-founder and CEO of Takeoff. "Our automated, hyperlocal micro-fulfillment center enables grocers to thrive in eGrocery."
Takeoff's first hyperlocal micro-fulfillment center will serve 14 Sedano's Supermarkets locations throughout Miami and offer consumers pickup services.
"We are excited to partner with Takeoff at the forefront of this groundbreaking robotics solution," said Javier Herran, Chief Marketing Officer for Sedano's. "This model gives us the ability to leap into the eGrocery industry, develop a new level of employment opportunities and continue meeting the needs of our valued consumers by offering an affordable and convenient online service."
Takeoff's objective is to develop hyperlocal fulfillment centers that have one-eighth the footprint of a typical supermarket thanks to innovative robotics and compact vertical spaces. Takeoff is currently working with five regional and national retail chains in the US and have several sites in development to deploy in 2019.
"Sedano's is a great partner for kicking off our solution, and we couldn't be more thrilled to work alongside them in providing a turn-key eGrocery solution," said Max Pedro, co-founder and President of Takeoff. "We're robotizing the supermarket – which has never been done before. This is the first of many deployments we are working on, and shoppers will soon see more local grocery stores with micro- fulfillment centers."
Takeoff's Micro Fulfillment Centers are set to be built throughout the U.S., in urban and suburban locations, resulting in convenient and hyperlocal solutions for grocery shoppers nationwide. Retailers can leverage underutilized real estate by turning existing stores into micro distribution centers with Takeoff's technology.
As Takeoff continues to grow, James McCann (former CEO of Ahold USA) is joining as a member of Takeoff Advisory Board and as an investor. McCann is a prominent and experienced retail executive globally. His experience as the former CEO of multiple global grocery retailers and more recent involvement with startups focused on retail technology will be invaluable as Takeoff further transforms the eGrocery space. Additionally, the company has closed its Series B financing led by Forrestal Capital, taking the total capital raised to $46M.
About Takeoff:
Takeoff is an eGrocery solution that empowers retailers to attain profitable online growth by leveraging automation at a hyperlocal scale. Orders are placed online through established retailers (using their existing eCommerce platform or Takeoff's customized UI solution), and Takeoff's automated technology fulfills the order using robots in Micro Fulfilment Centers.
The company's robotics technology is proven and ready to deploy thanks to Takeoff's exclusivity agreement with Knapp, a leading global provider of automated warehouse solutions. By leveraging automated Micro Fulfillment Centers, Takeoff's innovative model operates at a much lower cost-to-serve than other eCommerce platforms, solving for both the cost of assembling the order and cost of the last mile. This results in savings for both shoppers and retail partners. For more information, visit http://www.takeoff.com.
About Sedano's Supermarkets:
Founded in Hialeah, Florida in 1962 by the Herrán and Guerra families, Sedano's Supermarkets has grown to become the top Hispanic grocery in the United States. Sedano's Supermarkets caters to Florida's booming Hispanic community with more than 3,000 employees and 34 locations in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange and Osceola counties. As the largest, independently-owned, Hispanic supermarket chain, Sedano's Supermarkets is recognized for its excellent customer service, ethnic product offering and competitive prices. For more information, visit sedanos.com or follow Sedano's on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
SOURCE Takeoff Technologies
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