Technology

Posted on September 18, 2018 by staff

Robot warehouses boost supermarket’s fortunes

Technology

Robotic warehouses have helped Ocado Group grow revenues 11.5 per cent for the three months to September 2nd.

The online supermarket said it is “ramping up new capacity” after posting double-digit growth in average orders per week.

Last year Ocado ploughed major investment into its UK logistics hub and technology platform, including fully automated third and fourth warehouses at Andover, Hampshire and Erith, South-east London.

“The new capacity from Andover and Erith is helping meet consumer demand for our services and drive the channel shift which is transforming grocery retailing in the UK,” said Ocado CEO Tim Steiner.

“We are proud to have opened our Erith Customer Fulfilment Centre this summer on time and on budget.

“At full capacity, this latest state-of-the-art CFC will be the largest automated warehouse for online grocery in the world.

“We are delighted to report that last week Erith processed over 20,000 customer orders 14 weeks after opening, a number which took Andover 15 months to achieve.

“Together, Andover and Erith provide new opportunities for growth in our UK retail business while showcasing the scalability, adaptability and efficiency of our platform.”

Steiner said last year that investment was key to its future despite meaning it made pre-tax losses of several million pounds.

“Ocado’s unique and proprietary technology, which makes these facilities work, is bringing greater value, quality and convenience to British shoppers while at the same time helping our partners redefine the shopping experience for their own customers,” he added today.

“We are on track to deliver a significant number of new CFCs for our Solutions partners in the coming years and as such are fulfilling our goal of changing the way the world shops.”