UNFI Opens State-of-the-Art 1-Million-Sq.-Ft. Distribution Center in Manatee County Border Area
Southern Manatee County has become home to a new, high-tech distribution center for United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), a move set to improve efficiency and capacity for the grocery wholesaler. The facility, measuring roughly one million square feet, officially opens in the SRQ Logistics Center at 8380 21st Street East, on the Manatee-Sarasota county line near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
The new center is about 35 percent larger than UNFI’s previous facility in the area, replacing an older distribution center of about 734,000 square feet. It is located on the north side of the intersection of University Parkway and U.S. 301, the road that separates Manatee County from Sarasota County. Among other tenants in the SRQ Logistics Center is Amazon.
UNFI’s Sarasota North Distribution Center introduces new warehouse automation technologies. It is the first UNFI facility to use KNAPP’s Pick-it-Easy Robot, which uses artificial intelligence to learn about the characteristics of objects it handles, improving its ability to grip and place varying items reliably. It is also the second UNFI facility to deploy KNAPP’s Goods-to-Person automation, which conveys items from storage to fixed workstations for employees.
In addition to automation, the center includes several features aimed at improving working conditions and sustainability. It is fully air-conditioned, designed to maximize natural daylight, and uses dimmable lighting. The building also incorporates a full water filtration system. Amenities for employees include improved break areas and spaces designed around associate comfort.
The facility currently employs more than 400 individuals, many of whom have transitioned from UNFI’s former location in the area. UNFI states that the center’s automation and enhanced layout are expected to enhance order accuracy, improve inventory management, and increase overall operational efficiency, while reducing costs.
The SRQ Logistics Center, where the new facility is located, is a master-planned 300-acre business park adjacent to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and conveniently located near major transportation arteries such as Interstate 75 and U.S.-301.
With the inauguration of the Sarasota North facility, UNFI further advances its broader strategy of integrating cutting-edge automation into its distribution network. Similar investments have been made in other UNFI locations such as Manchester, Pennsylvania; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and Centralia, Washington.
