The 2026 Intralogistics Robotics Survey found that 52% of respondents use at least one type of robot in their warehouses or distribution centers, up from 48% a year earlier.
Autonomous-truck developers and their customers want driverless hauling to become a regular part of logistics. Yet among wholesale distributors, the public rollout remains limited to one announced operator: McLane Co.
Kristee Mitchell, who joined Crescent in 2023, moved into the newly expanded role Aug. 31 after most recently serving as vice president of supply chain fulfillment.
The acquisition comes as Winsupply advances a broader distribution expansion announced in March. The company plans to add 1.6 million square feet of capacity over two years through projects in Ohio, Oklahoma and Georgia.
The agreement expands BlueLinx’s specialty products portfolio as the building products distributor looks to increase its exposure to higher-value product categories.
The deal is a significant expansion of Shell’s directly controlled U.S. distribution and retail operations. Shell already has about 12,000 branded fuel and convenience locations across 49 states, but most are owned and operated by wholesalers and dealers
For distributors, Noble’s collapse illustrates the potential downside of building inventory and working-capital requirements around a large customer contract.
The Georgia investment expands a distribution model increasingly built around positioning inventory closer to customers while using automation and robotics to increase fulfillment speed and capacity.
Adroit Worldwide Media, or AWM, develops technology that uses artificial intelligence, computer vision, and sensors to automate inventory tracking and replenishment.
The findings could have broader implications for electronics distributors if manufacturers increase orders or carry more inventory to protect against longer lead times.