Kroger launches first Ocado powered customer fulfilment centre

Kroger has introduced its first customer fulfilment centre, powered by the Ocado Smart Platform.

This is the result of an exclusive Kroger and Ocado partnership, signed in 2018.

The CFC is located in Monroe, OH, a city north of Cincinnati.

"2020 was a pivotal year for grocery e-commerce, with our digital business scaling to over $10 billion, and achieving a record digital sales increase of 116%," says Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO.

"We're incredibly proud to achieve this milestone that advances our position as one of America's leading e-commerce companies.”

He adds: β€œThe momentum we're experiencing is well timed with the evolution of Kroger Delivery, underpinning the permanent shift in grocery consumer behaviour and need for enterprising and modern e-commerce and last mile solutions, today's true competitive horsepower.”

"This moment marks the next phase of our partnership, and it comes against the backdrop of soaring demand for online grocery options in the US and worldwide,” says Tim Steiner, Co-founder and CEO, Ocado Group.

β€œIn the coming years, we will open more automated CFCs across a range of sizes with Kroger.”

β€œWe will also roll out components of our software solutions to stores in collaboration with Kroger's existing seamless platform to support fulfilment of curbside pickup orders.”

β€œThe breadth of this fulfilment ecosystem will be crucial in helping Kroger to continue to win in e-commerce across the US.”

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