Southeastern Grocers has partnered with Relocalize, an automated food production service, to pilot ice manufacturing in an autonomous micro-factory, designed to help eliminate middle-mile logistics to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, and plastic pollution.
The micro-factory is managed by an AI-powered software platform and uses robotics for all production labor. This manufacturing process allows the grocer to scale production and create waste reduction solutions throughout the full lifecycle of the product while lowering its economic and environmental cost.
Through this partnership, SEG has also introduced Party Cubes, a certified plastic-negative, packaged ice that is produced on-site and on-demand at the micro-factory. The product is available at two Jacksonville, Florida locations, including the Lakewood Winn-Dixie store and the grocer’s stand-alone liquor store, WDs Wine, Beer, and Liquor, with plans to expand to the broader market.
“Our partnership with Relocalize meets at the intersection of sustainability and innovation and provides a unique opportunity to offer our customers better ice, in a better package, at a better price – that’s also better for the planet,” said Anthony Hucker, president and CEO for Southeastern Grocers, in a statement. “We plan to pilot ice manufacturing in the world’s first autonomous ice micro-factory in our hometown of Jacksonville, and we are excited to now offer Party Cubes in select local stores as we test and learn with the industry's first hyper-local, certified plastic-negative, packaged ice.”
Party Cubes cost less for consumers compared to traditional bagged ice, and the leak-proof packaging is recycle-ready. For every pound of plastic used in packaging, Relocalize will remove and recycle two pounds of ocean plastic. Additionally, the process produces zero water waste and reduces trucking carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent, according to the company.
“Two years ago, we set out on a mission to decarbonize food supply chains. Today, fully autonomous hyper-local food manufacturing becomes a reality through our partnership with Southeastern Grocers,” said Wayne McIntyre, CEO and co-founder of Relocalize.
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