CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. has partnered with KNAPP, a global leader in intelligent automation and specialized software solutions, to enhance the capabilities of the retailer's existing Great Lakes Distribution Center in Delaware, Ohio. The facility is currently being renovated to add modern state-of-the-art technology and is expected to be complete this summer. 

The distribution center first opened in 2003 and currently services 115 stores in central and northwest Ohio, as well as southeast Michigan and the Ohio River Valley region. During the renovation, the facility will expand by 130,000 square feet. 

"Kroger's investment in KNAPP's latest technology allows the Great Lakes Distribution Center to improve efficiency in replenishing our stores, enabling us to quickly deliver fresh food to our customers,” said Tony Lucchino, Kroger's vice president of supply chain and network strategy. “The expansion of the facility is part of the ongoing transformation of our supply chain network, and this project will more than double our capacity while delivering innovation and scalability that can grow with demand. This collaborative project will allow us to better serve customers in the region." 

The site will use a unique combination of KNAPP OSR (order, storage and retrieval) shuttles that deliver grocery cases in an exact sequence to the RUNPICK robotic palletizer.