Duluth Trading Company invests $53 million in automated facility
A casualwear, workwear and accessory retailer is opening its first-ever automated distribution and fulfillment center.
Duluth Trading Company has implemented the Manhattan Active Warehouse Management platform at its new distribution and fulfillment facility in Adairsville, Ga. Officially open as of Monday Sept. 18, 2023, the retailer plans to use this automated supply chain hub to serve its 65 retail stores and e-commerce business.
The retailer invested $53 million to build the facility and selected Manhattan Active Warehouse Management to drive, optimize and modernize its distribution operations. Duluth Trading Company seeks to enhance the efficiency of its fulfillment operations and handle increased order volumes while reducing turnaround times.
The Adairsville warehouse will serve as a flagship automated distribution center, setting a model for what Duluth Trading Company plans to be future implementations across its logistics network. The retailer also intends to leverage the new automated facility to support its growth plan to achieve at least $1 billion in sales by 2025.
Manhattan Active Warehouse Management is a cloud-native warehouse management system (WMS) designed to unify distribution planning and execution processes. The solution is built entirely from API microservices.
"Manhattan Active Warehouse Management will fully modernize our logistics operations, allowing us to optimize our distribution and fulfillment processes," said Kevin Helmeid, VP of logistics at Duluth Trading. “With Manhattan Associates' expertise and industry-leading innovation, we are now better equipped to handle the ever-changing demands of our customers.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Duluth Trading Company on its successful implementation of Manhattan Active Warehouse Management at their new, state-of-the-art Adairsville distribution center,” said Stewart Gantt, executive vice president, professional services at Manhattan Associates. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with this forward-thinking retailer and supporting their continued success.”
Retailers open automated supply chain facilities
An increasing number of retailers are leveraging leading-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to mitigate the effects of supply chain disruption by partially or fully automating distribution and fulfillment centers. Notable examples include Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens, and Amazon.
Based in Mount Horeb, Wis., Duluth Trading Co. and its portfolio of brands – Duluth and AKHG, offer outdoor- and work-based apparel, accessories and gear for men and women.