Locus Robotics, a warehouse automation firm, has introduced {that a} cold-storage {hardware} modification developed for HelloFresh has enabled the meal package firm to develop chilled achievement capability from 100 SKUs to 500 SKUs – a fivefold enhance that helps higher meal selection and new income alternatives throughout the HelloFresh model portfolio.
Issue, a HelloFresh model, first deployed 13 Locus Origin robots in July 2025 as a part of an preliminary pilot. The deployment rapidly demonstrated the execution consistency and reliability required for chilled achievement, with Locus Origin robots averaging a mission time of simply 3 minutes and 36 seconds from order induction by way of field drop-off.
Following that robust early efficiency, HelloFresh expanded the deployment inside three months with 26 further Locus Origin robots, with plans so as to add EveryPlate achievement assist later this yr.
That mission velocity is very vital in temperature-controlled achievement, the place each minute issues. Current 3PL fulfillment-time benchmarks typically measure efficiency in 30-minute, 60-minute, or multi-hour home windows, underscoring the worth of compressing a essential achievement motion into minutes.
Brad Mesloh, affiliate director, strategic design at HelloFresh, says: “Our prospects count on extra selection, extra flexibility, and a persistently nice expertise.
“Delivering that in a relaxing achievement atmosphere requires precision, velocity, and know-how that may adapt to the complexity of our operations.
“Locus Robotics gave our groups a easy, easy-to-use AMR platform that was sooner, safer, and required much less house than different choices we evaluated. The implementation was extraordinarily easy, with a lot of the testing accomplished just about earlier than go-live.
“As soon as the robots had been on the ground, last validation took just a few days, making the deployment a lot faster and easier than our legacy techniques.”
Refrigerated achievement creates a special set of calls for for battery-powered robots. Chilly temperatures can cut back battery effectivity over time and use, and HelloFresh’s working mannequin requires Locus Origin robots to stay inside chilled circumstances for each work and charging.
To satisfy that problem, Locus Robotics developed a heated motor enhancement and associated charging modifications that assist dependable, steady operation in chilly storage environments.
Jasmine Lombardi, chief buyer officer, says: “HelloFresh is scaling some of the demanding achievement fashions available in the market: excessive quantity, excessive selection, and temperature-controlled from begin to end.
“By growing capability and increasing automation throughout HelloFresh’s portfolio of manufacturers, Locus Robotics is enabling higher meal selection for its prospects whereas sustaining the velocity and precision its achievement mannequin calls for.”
Locus Robotics helps roughly 12,000 sq. toes of HelloFresh’s chilled achievement house, together with two high-speed meal package selecting strains.
In some workflows, Locus Origin robots transfer orders straight from induction to drop-off, serving to HelloFresh transfer merchandise sooner whereas sustaining order monitoring.
HelloFresh initially evaluated a bigger built-in automation system involving two further suppliers, however selected to start with a centered Locus Robotics proof of idea.
The strategy helped the crew transfer sooner, cut back upfront value, and acquire hands-on expertise with Locus Origin robots in a dwell chilled achievement atmosphere.
The deployment additionally helped HelloFresh keep away from a number of the constraints of conventional mounted conveyor techniques, the place a single failure can disrupt achievement stream.
With Locus Robotics, HelloFresh gained a extra versatile automation mannequin supported by compact robots, a easy selecting interface, and a wise AMR platform designed to suit inside current operations.
