Ecom Express opens grocery fulfilment center in Coimbatore

Ecom Express Limited today announced the expansion of its fulfillment business network by launching a fulfillment center in Palladam near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is the first fulfillment center in this part of the region which will cater to grocery items including the temperature-controlled category and fruits & vegetables.

The new facility is designed to support one of the top e-grocery players and it is the company's first grocery fulfillment center in Tamil Nadu and seventh in the South region. The facility will cater to 50+ dark stores owned by the grocery player.

The facility is located strategically with consideration of network centricity as Coimbatore offers easy access to Bengaluru, north Kerala, south Karnataka, and west and south Tamil Nadu. This expansion will help the grocery brand to offer a wider selection and enable faster deliveries of customer orders within the region and towns in the neighbouring states.

With an average inventory of close to 2 million items and the capacity to process upward of 200,000 throughputs at full capacity, the facility has a value-creation area that enables labelling, packaging, and dispatch services. The operations are optimized by state-of-the-art Vertical Reciprocal Conveyors (VRCs), lifts, and spiral elevators to provide high mobility and speed in goods movement.

The facility is equipped with agile and well-designed racking systems for products such as household supplies, staples, tea, snacks and beverages, confectionery, personal care, and more.

Dipanjan Banerjee, Chief Business Officer, Ecom Express, said, "The Indian online grocery market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.1% from 2021 to 2028 and owing to the surge in employment opportunities, business infrastructure, and household income, South India is expected to lead the way for the industry growth. In this context, Coimbatore is an important market for e-grocery as its strategic location enables better service to customers in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring state of Kerala. Not only will it expand our client's reach, but will also help extend its business capabilities.''

He added, ''Our continued investment in fulfillment business is a testimony of our commitment to the segment and driving newer models for grocery, retail, and e-commerce customers. We are also committed to the potential of the state of Tamil Nadu in accelerating tremendous logistics growth and creating job opportunities for the local youth.''

The new fulfillment center will employ more than 500 people to handle the ever-increasing influx of grocery orders. In order to create a gender-balanced workforce, the company will ensure that 30 to 40% of employees in the Coimbatore facility are women.

The company's fulfillment network facilities are designed with efficient building systems that minimize energy usage. The new center integrates multiple dimensions of sustainability, such as rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment plant, and safety measures, including fire detection, prevention, and suppressing system, with employee evacuation plans.