Since 1911, Fratelli Carli has been synonymous with high-quality Italian olive oils and Mediterranean specialties sold directly to consumers—with a consistent focus on quality, origin, and customer service. For 33 years, the company’s exclusive brand promise has relied in large part on automated intralogistics systems from the Stöcklin Group.
Construction, maintenance, and sustainable modernization of an automated high-bay pallet warehouse over more than three decades
Two-aisle system with 2,418 pallet storage locations, two MASTer storage and retrieval machines with two double-carriage systems, a chain lift, and 1 km of roller conveyor system
A long-term, trusting partnership enables the Benefit company to implement a maintenance and modernization strategy that combines high performance with sustainable use of resources at the heart of the brand
Three phases of modernization carried out without interrupting operations are preparing the plant and the company for future challenges
For over 100 years, Fratelli Carli has impressed customers with a consistent blend of product quality, direct sales, and customer focus. From its early days of making house calls by bicycle, the company has—through deliberate growth—evolved into a select network of stores with an e-commerce backbone and international reach. State-of-the-art intralogistics and sustainable distribution solutions included.
With the introduction of an automated high-bay warehouse at its headquarters in Imperia, Italy, in the early 1990s, Fratelli Carli laid the foundation for its current intralogistics. The facility has a total of 2,418 pallet storage locations and continues to form the backbone of its material flow processes.
Two MASTer storage and retrieval machines (SRMs) with two double travel carriages (TC), two chain lifts, and approximately 1 km of roller conveyor technology from Stöcklin ensure reliable material handling. Putaway and retrieval processes run in parallel, thereby ensuring operational efficiency in day-to-day operations.
The integration of Stöcklin’s logOS MFS material flow management system has significantly optimized key processes and substantially increased transparency regarding operations and inventory levels.
The system has been serviced every six months since it was commissioned. To this day, this preventive strategy has made it possible to identify and remedy potential vulnerabilities at an early stage.
In three modernization phases—which were planned and implemented while the plant remained in operation—the facility was continuously upgraded in collaboration with Stöcklin:
- Mechanical renewal (2005): Replacement of worn components and optimization of key parts to ensure plant availability
- Technological upgrade (2024): Modernization of the control and safety systems to bring them in line with current standards and requirements
- Software validation and update (2025): Updating and validating the plant control system and the WMS as a final step to ensure performance, transparency, and future-proofing
The development at Fratelli Carli demonstrates how intralogistics can establish itself as an integral part of a business model. The combination of technical expertise, consistent modernization, and structured service creates a system that remains highly efficient over the long term—and reliably and sustainably supports the requirements of a quality-oriented direct sales model.
To this day, the high storage density reduces space requirements. Automated processes lower energy consumption and minimize manual intervention. This makes operations easier; the energy-efficient facility makes it easier to operate itin a carbon-neutral manner using its own photovoltaic system—and the reduced physical strain improves working conditions for employees. These are key factors for the company, which is now organized as a “benefit corporation.”
