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Kroger launches Ocado-automated warehouse in Detroit market

New online grocery facility to provide delivery service in three states

Russell Redman

October 19, 2022

3 Min Read
Kroger-Ocado CFC-Pleasant Prairie WI.jpg
So far, Kroger has six Ocado robotic customer fulfillment centers (CFCs) in operation, including this location in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.The Kroger Co.

The Kroger Co. has officially opened a new Ocado Group-powered customer fulfillment center (CFC) in the Detroit area under its partnership with the United Kingdom-based e-grocery specialist.

The 135,000-square-foot CFC, located on Wahrman Road in Romulus, Mich., will help fill online grocery orders for Kroger Delivery service in the greater Detroit area, Cincinnati-base Kroger said yesterday. Reaching customers up to 90 minutes from the site, the facility will employ more than 700 associates as Kroger expands delivery service across southeast Michigan.

“Kroger has served customers in the state of Michigan for more than a century, and we are thrilled to bring Kroger Delivery to greater Detroit,” Bill Bennett, vice president and head of e-commerce.

Kroger-Ocado CFC-Pleasant Prairie WI-truck bay.jpg

The CFCs have a delivery service radius of about 90 miles, extended if they're supported by a spoke facility.

“From the refrigerated trucks, to the trained and uniformed drivers, to the white-glove delivery experience at the door, Kroger Delivery brings that same zero compromise experience to a new delivery option for customers,” he noted. “This new offering builds on all the other benefits of shopping Kroger online, including an entirely personalized shopping experience, easy digital coupons, valuable fuel points and fresh, high-quality products, shoppable on the Kroger app or on Kroger.com.”

The Romulus CFC, announced in September 2020, actually got under way in a soft launch this past summer, Kroger disclosed in announcing the opening of 350,000 square-foot Ocado CFC in Dallas. Kroger’s Romulus facility supports customers in several market areas, including in Michigan, northern Ohio and Indiana.

Related:Kroger opens Ocado-automated ‘spoke’ site in Alabama

In May 2018, Kroger unveiled an exclusive U.S. partnership with U.K.-based online grocery specialist Ocado to identify sites for about 20 automated CFCs over the ensuing three years. The high-tech CFCs use Ocado’s vertical integration, machine learning and robotics to fill e-grocery delivery orders and extend Kroger’s reach to a larger geographic footprint, including areas where it doesn’t operate physical stores.

Thus far, Kroger has announced 17 CFCs — ranging from 135,000 to 375,000 square feet — and six are now open. Kroger opened its first Ocado CFC, a 375,000-square-foot automated warehouse, in April 2021 in Monroe, Ohio. That was followed by 375,000-square-foot CFCs in Groveland, Fla., in June 2021 and in Forest Park, Ga., this past February and a 340,000-square-foot CFC in Pleasant Prairie, Wis., in June, followed by the Dallas and Romulus sites. The Groveland location marked the first CFC opening in a state where Kroger doesn’t have physical stores (except for one Harris Teeter store in Jacksonville, Fla.).

Related:Kroger automated e-grocery warehouses get under way in Dallas, Detroit

In addition, Kroger has announced 12 Ocado-automated “spoke” facilities of 40,000 to 80,000 square feet. Supporting the CFCs, the spokes serve as last-mile cross-dock sites for e-grocery delivery and lengthen the delivery service radius. Most recently, in September, Kroger opened a 50,000-square-foot spoke in Birmingham, Ala., which assists the Forest Park CFC “hub.” Spokes in operation also include sites in Nashville, Tenn., and Maywood, Ill.; Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla.; Lockbourne, Ohio; Indianapolis; Louisville, Ky.; and San Antonio.

“Ocado’s world-leading technology is already powering CFCs with Kroger across six states and supporting Kroger Delivery to bring a world-leading service to multiple new and existing Kroger markets around the country,” stated Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions, which has its U.S. headquarters in Tyson, Va. “Our CFC in Romulus is already bringing a game-changing online grocery experience to customers in the greater Detroit area, and we look forward to bringing this to Kroger customers from coast to coast across the U.S. as our partnership continues to grow.”

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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