Ocado Group and AEON have announced the official go live of their second customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Japan. The facility in Hachioji City, Tokyo was unveiled by AEON executives at a ceremony at the site.

This will provide additional capacity to enable the growth of AEON’s Green Beans online grocery delivery brand across the Tokyo region, as well as driving logistical efficiency and shorter delivery distances across its network. Hachioji is the second Ocado CFC to use its Auto-Freezer system following the recent launch of Lotte's CFC in Busan, South Korea.

This uses a specialised version of Ocado’s fulfilment bot to process frozen orders 2.7 times faster than AEON’s first CFC in Chiba, and increases freezer inventory capacity by 150% while reducing the required storage footprint by 50%. The Auto-Freezer will also reduce the time spent by staff in freezer conditions to below 5% of their working hours.

The four-storey CFC has a gross floor area of approximately 40,000 m², and is equipped with a full suite of Ocado’s Re:Imagined technologies, including On-Grid Robotic Pick. The site will also offer a Pickup service, allowing customers to collect orders directly from the site in as little as three hours.

Ocado Group and AEON’s partnership launched in 2019 with the announcement of a deal to develop the online operations of the AEON NEXT grocery business using the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP). 

In April 2023, AEON NEXT revealed Green Beans, ahead of its first CFC opening. In July 2023, it opened the first OSP CFC in Chiba, serving customers in the Greater Tokyo Area and the wider Kanto region.

Nick de la Vega, Chief Revenue Officer, Ocado Group says: "We are pleased to build on our successful partnership with AEON with the opening of our second CFC in Japan."

"This is one of our most advanced sites in the world, with the implementation of our Auto-Freezer technology in particular set to drive significant efficiency and capacity benefits, as well as improving working conditions for colleagues. We look forward to continuing to work with AEON to deliver market leading freshness, the widest range of products available in any Japanese grocery market and unbeatable levels of convenience."

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards

Grocery delivery will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, which celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world, have now closed for entries. Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

Check out our 2026 shortlists and finalists here.

We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of technology excellence driving transformative change across the global retail sector.

Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process! It’s now over to our star studded judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London. 

The event will be held on Wednesday, 4th November and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, awards ceremony presided over by award winning stand-up comedian, presenter, actor and broadcaster, Aurie Styla, and after party until 1am.

Click here to book your place at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 4th November.

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