Merlog Foods’ extensive operation is run out of two facilities: one in Cato Ridge just outside Durban and the
other in Heriotdale, Johannesburg. The Cato Ridge facility is a custom-built head office and distribution centre that allows the Merlog team to operate efficiently and serve their customers even better than before.
Their Cato Ridge premises has a state-of-the-art freezer facility with a capacity of approximately 12 000 pallet positions. The cold storage facility at Heriotdale holds 3 000 pallets in a conventional static racking layout. This empowers them to manage their retail-driven Johannesburg business.
Merlog Foods is ISO 22000 accredited.
The facility at Cato Ridge features 12 loading bays, a massive drop temp airlock and groundbreaking software systems. Efficiency is the name of the game.
The Merlog Foods cold store features a fully Automated Schafer Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), with WAMAS (WMS) being the warehouse management system. With traceability being so key, WMS allows the
Merlog Foods team to track a particular pallet anywhere throughout its journey through the store – whether it be in receiving, on the inbound or outbound conveyor, in the picking room or on the dispatch floor.
The ASRS crane packs products into the store automatically, positioning them according to fast, medium or slow movement rates. The crane boasts smart features and has the ability to “learn” and reposition items as needed.
The operating system is especially geared for third party storage and distribution. It boasts state-of-the-art voice picking and radio frequency technology.
No manpower or manually-operated machinery is involved in the working of the bulk store.
