Apparel retailer Oxford Industries is rolling out robots across its new large- scale distribution centre in Georgia, US.

Through a partnership with global warehouse robotics provider Exotes, the retailer will integrate an advanced robot-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) designed to optimise warehouse operations, consisting of 450,000 storage locations and more than 450 robots.

Oxford Industries owns and markets several clothing brands, including Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, Johnny Was, Southern Tide, The Beaufort Bonnet Company and Duck Head.

The company’s new warehouse technology integrates bespoke hardware and software with third-party machines to deliver end-to-end warehouse automation and support receiving, transferring, sorting and packing, as well as outbound shipping.

The system will also enable the company to manage returns, with the goal of facilitating cost and time savings and eliminating employee time spent inspecting, sorting and storing returned items.

The 560,000+-square foot omnichannel distribution facility is expected to open in late 2025.

The new site aims is expected to process more than 20 million units a year.

“We are excited about making this large investment in an expanded facility in Toombs County which, together with the great workforce we already have here, has been a great place for Oxford for many years,” said Mark Kirby, Oxford Industries’ senior vice president-operations. “This new facility, will ensure best-in-class direct to consumer throughput capabilities for our brands.”

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