GXO Logistics, Inc. announced that it has renewed its contract with Mars in France, a partnership that started 15 years ago. GXO manages storage, distribution, returns and value added-services for a number of Mars brands across its Snacking and Food & Nutrition segments. GXO?s 60,000-square-meter warehouse in Boigny-sur-Bionne has leveraged advanced automation solutions since 2018, including a layer picking robot that can prepare up to 60,000 packages per day.

Recently, as part of the contract extension, the team developed a solution that enables new product ranges to be integrated into those managed by the robot, thus optimizing and increasing package preparation capacity. In addition, the facility uses adaptive technology, including tools such as ergonomic scanners and e-beacon technology that automatically scan pallets loaded for shipment. As part of its commitment to continuous improvement, GXO plans to implement additional innovations on-site, including an automated inventory system.

Mars brands served at the site include Petcare (PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, CESAR, SHEBA, ROYAL CANIN), Snacking (M&M?s, TWIX, SNICKERS, Celebrations, FREEDENT, SKITTLES) and Food & Nutrition segments (BEN?S Original, EBLY, SUZI WAN). In addition to their high operational standards, Mars and GXO share a desire for sustainable growth, ensuring best practices are integrated across their initiatives. Mars worked with GXO to install LED lighting on-site in 2024, with twilight and motion detection, lowering energy consumption by approximately 22% compared to the previous year.

In 2023, new initiatives implemented for order preparation and loading efficiency helped optimize truck capacity and removed 1,500 truck movements from roads, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 1,400 tons annually compared to 2022 as well as reducing transportation costs significantly. The facility also houses more than 20 sheep to maintain green spaces on site in a sustainable manner. The site?s location has also enabled rail transportation from production facilities located in Germany.

This new agreement will see the use of three trains per week, which is equivalent to the volume handled by roughly 70 trucks, and consequently reducing long distance transport miles traveled by a forecasted amount of 3,600 trucks per year. GXO?s automation and technology are helping boost safety, efficiency and productivity for customers globally. In 2023, GXO increased its total tech and automated systems by about 50% compared with 2022.

GXO is also accelerating the deployment of machine learning and artificial intelligence to further boost productivity.