Ocado Partner Kroger Orders New Automated Technologies

The order is a boost for Ocado after it said last month that its Canadian supermarket partner Sobeys had paused the opening of a fourth robotic warehouse, prompting a slump in Ocado shares.

New Technologies

Ocado said Kroger will implement its latest technologies, such as On-Grid Robotic Pick (OGRP) and Automated Frameload (AFL), across multiple warehouses, or customer fulfilment centres (CFCs) as Ocado calls them, in its live network, as well as future CFCs.

Ocado did not put a value on the order placed by Kroger.

OGRP is a robotic arm that is installed directly on a warehouse’s grid. Robots operating on the grid deposit groceries next to the robot arms to be packed into customer bags.

At full capacity, OGRP can pick more than 70% of an extensive online grocery range, Ocado said.

AFL automates the most physically demanding job in the warehouse – the loading of prepared customer orders onto delivery frames ready for dispatch.

Ocado said both technologies will bring new levels of efficiency and labour productivity to Kroger’s delivery network.

ESM