Walmart's AI-assisted distribution centers aim to cut food waste and boost profits (www.businessinsider.com)

Walmart has deployed automated robotics and AI across multiple high-tech grocery distribution centers in South Carolina, Texas and California to speed processing of perishables, cut food waste and protect razor-thin grocery margins. Facilities such as the 725,000 sq. ft. Wellford center are roughly 98% automated: robots autonomously accept vendor deliveries, store goods in temperature‑controlled zones, and sort items into pallets for 180 stores across five states. AI models create the “perfect pallet” by optimizing item placement, volume and weight constraints (so eggs aren’t crushed), aligning pallet order with individual store layouts for faster in‑aisle stocking, and incorporating associate feedback to refine algorithms. Beyond palletization, Walmart uses predictive and generative AI in production to forecast demand further out, factor in external signals (weather, major events), plan ideal delivery routes (e.g., pineapples in Costa Rica), and dynamically reroute excess inventory between stores (examples in Mexico). These capabilities reduce buffer inventory and transport costs, enable more targeted pricing and promotions, and improve on‑shelf freshness—turning rich retail data into executable operational gains that lower waste and boost profitability across the supply chain.