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Kroger names Florida site for automated warehouse

Partner Ocado to set up North America office in D.C. area

Russell Redman

March 19, 2019

3 Min Read
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The Kroger Co. said Groveland, Fla., will be the site for the next automated warehouse to be opened under its partnership with U.K. online grocer Ocado.

Plans call for the 375,000-square-foot customer fulfillment center (CFC), to be located at U.S. Highway 27 and American Way in Groveland, to break ground later this year and be up and running in 2021, Kroger said Tuesday. Dubbed a “shed,” the automated warehouse uses digital and robotic technology to fulfill online grocery orders. It’s expected to create more than 400 jobs in Florida’s Lake County.

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Under their partnership, unveiled in May 2018, Kroger and Ocado said they plan to open 20 CFCs in the United States over the next three years.

Kroger announced in November that its first CFC would be built in Monroe, Ohio, a suburb north of its Cincinnati headquarters. That facility also is slated to be operational by 2021. And last month, Kroger said the next two Ocado warehouses would be in central Florida and the Mid-Atlantic but didn’t specify sites.

"Kroger is incredibly excited to construct one of our industry-leading customer fulfillment centers in Groveland, Fla., a city west of Orlando, through our relationship with Ocado," Alex Tosolini, senior vice president of new business development at Kroger, said in a statement. "Through our strategic partnership, we are leveraging advanced robotics technology and creative solutions to redefine the customer experience across America."

Related:Kroger unveils two more Ocado automated warehouses

Previously, Kroger said it’s investing $55 million to build the 335,000-square-foot Ocado facility. The companies plan to replicate the CFC model nationwide to fulfill “anything, anytime and anywhere” online orders from customers.

Earlier this month, Kroger reported that its digital sales jumped 58% in fiscal 2018. During that period, the supermarket giant expanded online grocery delivery and/or pickup service to 91% of households in its trade areas.

"Kroger thanks the state of Florida, Groveland and Lake County officials for their tremendous support of this project," Tosolini stated. "We're eager to transform the grocery experience for central Florida residents through innovation and ingenuity."

New home for Ocado

With the ramp-up in activity with partners Kroger in the U.S. and Sobeys Inc. in Canada, Ocado yesterday said it plans to establish a North America base for Ocado Solutions in Tysons, Va., outside the Washington, D.C.

According to Ocado, the new office will coordinate the delivery of technology, support and engineering services to sites across North America. The company noted that the development of a CFC for Sobeys in the greater Toronto area is “now well under way.”

Related:Kroger, Ocado announce first U.S. fulfillment center

"I am delighted that we are bringing Ocado to Washington, D.C. The new office will give us a direct presence in North America from which to oversee the delivery of our innovative partnerships with Kroger and Sobeys,” Ocado Solutions CEO Luke Jensen stated. “We selected the D.C. area for its great connections to cities across the USA and Canada, as well as for its strong technology and engineering talent pools."

The office is expected to go into operation in April, ahead of establishing a permanent location in the D.C. area, Ocado said.

"From this office, we will also coordinate the recruitment and training of hundreds of highly skilled technologists and engineers across North America,” Jensen added. “We look forward to welcoming this new talent to support the relentless pursuit of innovation at the core of Ocado's mission."

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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