US retailer Kroger has announced that it is to build its fifth high-tech customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Dallas in Texas.
Kroger has committed to building up to 20 CFCs in the United States in association with British e-commerce giant Ocado.
The automated warehouses, equipped with digital and robotic capabilities, will enable the retailer to offer better services for online customers across America, it said.
Redefining 'Customer Experience'
Robert Clark, senior vice-president of supply chain, manufacturing and sourcing at Kroger, said, "Through our strategic partnership, we are engineering a model for the region, leveraging advanced robotics technology and creative solutions to redefine the customer experience for our customers in North Texas and across America."
Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions, said, "Kroger and Ocado's partnership is a game-changer in the fast-developing, global landscape for online grocery.
"As this site develops and goes live, it will be instrumental in delivering fantastic grocery experiences and exciting job opportunities to households across North Texas."
The Centre
The CFC in Dallas will spread across an area of 350,000 square feet and is expected to create up to 400 new jobs.
Construction will commence in early 2020, and the facility will be operational in the following 24 months, Kroger said.
Mayor of the city of Dallas, Eric Johnson, described the facility as "a boon" for the residents.
"The city's competitive incentive package for Kroger and Ocado Solutions will facilitate the creation of hundreds of well-paying jobs, engage our education system and provide a new option for our consumers," he added.
In June of this year, Kroger broke ground on its first CFC in Monroe in Ohio followed by Groveland in Florida in July. It also plans to build CFCs in Forest Park in Georgia and the Mid-Atlantic region.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
