THG Fulfil Expanded Partnership With AutoStore
The firm secured global distribution rights for automated systems, offering flexible purchase and leasing options.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Robotics
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THG Fulfil has expanded its distribution partnership with AutoStore to provide warehouse automation systems globally. The agreement enables brands to adopt technology through either traditional capital expenditure or robotics-as-a-service models.
Why it matters
This expansion provides retailers with increased commercial flexibility for automation, allowing them to integrate advanced logistics without the heavy upfront costs previously required for full ownership.
THG Fulfil now operates 796 AutoStore robots, utilizing proprietary control software to deliver over 11,000 bins per hour to picking stations. At one deployment for Footasylum, the system manages 96,000 bin locations using 85 R5 robots.
The players
THG Fulfil
A logistics and supply chain provider that operates a proprietary warehouse management platform and global distribution network.
AutoStore
A warehouse automation technology firm known for its high-density cubic storage systems and robotic grid infrastructure.
Footasylum
A UK-based retailer that utilizes an 85-robot AutoStore configuration to manage 96,000 bin locations.
The details
AutoStore uses a high-density, automated storage and retrieval system where robots navigate a grid to access bins stacked vertically. THG Fulfil integrates this hardware with its own proprietary warehouse control software, a system that manages and optimizes the flow of inventory data and robot movement. The expanded agreement allows for the distribution of several hardware product lines, including the R5 Pro, R5 Pro+ robots, and specialized picking interfaces like CarouselPort and VersaPort.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: The partnership expansion was officially announced.
The Tech Race
The rollout of these systems follows a trajectory established by the AutoStore R5 robotic grid storage architecture as competitors seek to scale via similar distribution models. THG Fulfil now positions itself as a key integrator, competing directly with traditional logistics providers by packaging hardware access with proprietary software.
Retailers and brand operators gain the ability to choose between CapEx investments and robotics-as-a-service models, potentially lowering the barrier to entry for large-scale automation. Users will experience the impact through faster order fulfillment speeds and reduced wait times, matching the 78 percent efficiency gains seen in the existing THG Fulfil network.
The takeaway
The move suggests a market push toward flexible, scalable automation as standard practice rather than one-off infrastructure investments. Watch for future integration data from deployments utilizing the R5 Pro and Pro+ product lines to verify if these units maintain similar performance-per-bin benchmarks.
Further reading
For broader trends in logistics automation, browse the latest updates on Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Insider Media Ltd.
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