Osuuskauppa Arina, a regional cooperative of Finland's S Group, has announced plans to construct a micro-fulfillment center (MFC) in Oulu, North Ostrobothnia, to address the rising demand for online grocery shopping in the region. This new facility marks the cooperative's third automated fulfillment project in Finland, following a centralized fulfillment center (CFC) in Helsinki and an MFC in Tampere.
The Oulu facility will feature dual AutoStore systems for handling both ambient and chilled groceries, complemented by manual floor-picking areas for high-demand items. Frozen goods will be managed through the adjacent Prisma supermarket to streamline operations and improve last-mile delivery efficiency.
“Online shopping makes everyday life easier and frees up time for other things. This is why our online food sales continue to grow strongly in Oulu and the surrounding area. Since the beginning of 2024, the growth has been approximately 50 percent compared to the previous year,” said Mikko Polso, Director of Supermarket Trade Division at Osuuskauppa Arina.
The new MFC will span 1,400 square meters and include 46 Redline AutoStore robots, supported by Swisslog’s SynQ software. Once operational, the facility will double the region's online delivery capacity and employ 25–30 people for piece-picking and quality assurance tasks.
Polso added, “The automated solutions and robotics reduce the need for our staff walking around the store collecting items. The change thus offers our customers in the store a more pleasant and spacious shopping experience.”
Installation is set to begin in September 2025, with the facility expected to be fully operational by April 2026.
