Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 11th June 2026 Issue no. 1214
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New partnership will lead to major robotic cleaning deployment across Swiss stores
Pudu Robotics, in collaboration with its authorised regional distributor Robobee, has formed a strategic partnership with Denner, one of Switzerland's leading discount supermarket chains and a subsidiary of Migros Group.
The partnership includes the deployment of 200 Pudu CC1 4-in-1 cleaning robots across Denner's store network, marking a major step in retail automation in Europe.
The initiative forms part of Denner's broader modernisation program, recently highlighted by CEO Torsten Friedrich, aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing the in-store customer experience. The deployment commenced several months ago.
"We are honoured that Denner selected Pudu CC1 to help address a critical operational challenge," says Felix Zhang, Pudu’s founder and CEO. "This deployment stems from a clear need: to maintain impeccable hygiene standards amid expanding fresh produce offerings, while alleviating the daily cleaning burden on store teams. The success of the initial pilot proved that robotics can be a reliable, safe, and integral part of the daily retail environment.
"Seeing the project scale from four pilot stores to a deployment of this size is a strong validation of both the technology and the operational value it delivers. It reflects a shared commitment to practical innovation and measurable day-to-day efficiency."
Dario Himmelsbach, CEO of Robobee, adds:
"Selling a robot is easy. However, making it work in a complex retail environment is the real challenge. We don't do 'off-the-shelf' sales. Our holistic approach is about turning robotics into a reliable project. I'm grateful to Pudu Robotics for its agility in adapting its technology based on our solution especially designed for Denner, allowing us to apply the 'Swiss Finish' that actually turned this technology into a success that performs on every third shop within the Denner store network."
Denner's adoption of autonomous cleaning technology was driven by a growing operational need. The expansion of its fresh produce categories significantly increased the daily cleaning workload across stores, creating greater demand for efficient and consistent floor maintenance.
A pilot project in four branches a year ago provided the answer. The trial proved convincing, demonstrating that the Pudu CC1 robots could effectively handle this routine task. Most importantly, Denner confirmed that the devices, with their compact yet optimal size, are clearly visible - a key consideration for deployment during shopping hours.
Christian Staub, head of sales at Denner, emphasises the importance of hygiene in food retail, saying:
"We're delighted to introduce smart helpers into our stores because hygiene and cleanliness remain top priorities in the supermarket environment."
The Migros subsidiary strongly emphasises that the robots are intended to relieve employees, not replace them. "Ideally, we can use the time saved for other tasks," adds Christian, framing the machines as assistants. This shift allows staff to dedicate more time to high-value activities like customer service and detailed product range maintenance.
Nihad Zoronjic, Denner manager, cites the advanced engineering and design of the Pudu CC1 as key decision factors, noting that its premium aesthetic aligns with Denner's innovative brand image. Its autonomous function, he adds, is pivotal in scaling cleaning frequency and quality simultaneously.
"In our evaluation, Pudu Robotics stood out for the superior build quality and advanced engineering of its CC1 solution," he says. "This alignment with our standards for innovation and reliability was a key factor in our partnership decision."
The successful deployment was further enabled by the strong local partnership with distributor, Robobee, which provided indispensable on-the-ground support, including project coordination, staff training and ongoing technical maintenance, ensuring a smooth and efficient rollout across Denner's store network.
Beyond the CC1 series deployed at Denner, Pudu has built a comprehensive cleaning robot product portfolio covering a wide spectrum of application scenarios. The company's product matrix spans from the Pudu CC1 series for small-to-medium spaces, the Pudu MT1 series for professional-grade dry cleaning in large areas, to the PUDU BG1 series - the AI-native large-scale scrubbing robot - for complex environments such as large retail stores, warehouses and parking lots. This achieves end-to-end coverage across retail, industrial, warehousing and other high-potential blue-ocean markets.
With the launch of the BG1 series, Pudu has completed its cleaning robot product line-up, evolving from traditional automation toward AI-native intelligence for next-generation large-scale cleaning solutions. Key features include:
* Excellent water efficiency: The Pudu CC1 can clean up to 2,000sq.m using only 15 litres of water, compared with more than 100 litres typically required in conventional manual cleaning processes.
* Improved efficiency and reduced labour burden: The autonomous cleaning solution more than doubles floor cleaning productivity while reducing repetitive manual workloads, helping stores optimize labour allocation and operational costs.
* Smart IoT integration: Equipped with intelligent connectivity features, the system supports real-time monitoring, automated scheduling and fully autonomous operation with minimal staff intervention.
Alexander Rauch from Denner's management team reports positive results from the ongoing deployment: "The robots are effectively supporting our employees to ensure efficient and safe cleaning, which in turn enhances our brand image and operational efficiency," he says.
Pudu's partnership approach was further distinguished by its customer-centric innovation. Beyond hardware, Pudu developed a dedicated software mode to address the challenges posed by Europe's naturally mineral-rich water, ensuring efficient operation and preventing scale buildup in Denner's stores.
www.pudurobotics.com | https://robobee.com/en/
11th June 2026