Kroger, Ocado open up in North Carolina
Kroger’s partnership with Ocado grows further with the addition of a new customer fulfillment center in North Carolina, which will increase delivery of Kroger owned brand and fresh foods from the retailer to shoppers in the area.
The center, powered by Ocado Group, uses vertical integration, machine learning and robotics to manage delivery of products as part of the company’s larger ecosystem.
“The acceleration of our delivery business continues with the development of an additional customer fulfillment center, advancing our commitment to creating career opportunities and serving shoppers fresh food fast through interconnected, automated, and innovative facilities and last-mile solutions across America," said Gabriel Arreaga, Kroger's senior vice president and chief supply chain officer. "We thank Governor Roy Cooper for his collaboration and support of this project, and the company looks forward to serving new and existing customers across North Carolina."
The North Carolina CFC, measuring 200,000 square feet, is expected to become operational within 24 months after the site breaks ground and will employ up to 700 associates over the next five years.
"We're excited to come to North Carolina in partnership with Kroger," said Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions. "As demonstrated by the two state-of-the-art CFCs already live in other parts of the country, Ocado is helping Kroger to establish a new high-bar in the type of quality and service that U.S. grocery shoppers can receive online. We can't wait for customers across North Carolina to experience online delivery, enabled by Ocado's unique technology."
Kroger previously stated it would construct a customer fulfilment center in the southern states and this center confirms that. It also expanded in June in Florida.
Kroger Fulfillment Network currently operates CFCs in Groveland, Fla., and Monroe, Ohio, and is slated to open sites in California, Dallas, Forest Park, Ga., Frederick, Md., Phoenix, Pleasant Prairie, Wis., Romulus, Mich., as well as South Florida and the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and West.