The Kroger Company, America's largest grocery retailer, and Ocado, one of the world's largest dedicated online grocery retailers, today broke ground on America's first customer fulfillment center.
The facility is part of the Restock Kroger initiative that will introduce ecommerce, fulfillment and logistics technology with the goal of providing customers with fresher food more quickly. According to Kroger, this will translate to to an "ability to provide anything, anytime, anywhere."
This first CFC – an automated warehouse facility with digital and robotic capabilities – is being constructed in Monroe, OH with hopes for replicating it across the country. Kroger intends to open 20 CFCs to support its vision. Two additional sites have been selected in the Central Florida and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Kroger is investing $55 million to build its first shed, which will measure 335,000 square feet and is expected to generate more than 400 new jobs.
"This is a historic moment for our partnership. With construction starting for Kroger's first customer fulfillment center in the Cincinnati region, we are now well on the way to a nationwide revolution in how Kroger customers experience ecommerce," said Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions.
