Kroger building sixth CFC in Wisconsin
The Kroger Co. is making Pleasant Prairie, Wis., the site of its sixth customer fulfillment center (CFC). The CFC will become operational 24 months after the site breaks ground and will serve customers in Wisconsin, northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.
Kroger is building the network of highly automated grocery fulfillment centers in partnership with U.K. online grocery leader Ocado. A deal announced in May 2018 called for the construction of 20 highly automated grocery fulfillment centers. Two are under construction in Monroe, Ohio, and Groveland, Fla.
"Kroger is incredibly excited to construct one of our industry-leading CFCs in Pleasant Prairie in relationship with Ocado to bring fresh food to our customers faster than ever before," said Robert Clark, Kroger's senior vice president of supply chain, manufacturing and sourcing. "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 Wisconsin and Illinois."
"We are excited to bring Kroger and Ocado's latest automated warehouse to Pleasant Prairie,” said Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions. “As this site develops and goes live, it will be instrumental in delivering fantastic grocery experiences and exciting job opportunities to households across Chicago, Milwaukee and beyond,"
The three other locations are planned for Georgia, Texas and in the Mid-Atlantic region.
"We're extremely pleased that two companies of Kroger and Ocado's stature are the latest to choose Wisconsin for their operations," said Missy Hughes, secretary and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). "Wisconsin's excellent transportation infrastructure, educated and highly skilled workers and strong communities make our state the clear choice for businesses like Kroger and Ocado that are looking to grow."
The Pleasant Prairie CFC will measure 350,000 square feet and is expected to create up to 400 new jobs.
"This project expands Kroger's commitment to continued investment in Wisconsin and Illinois. With this cutting-edge technology, Kroger is confident our partnership with Ocado will play an integral role in the continued commerce growth of this dynamic region," added Michael Marx, Kroger Roundy's president. "This transformative fulfillment center will create local jobs and accelerate Kroger's ability to expand our products and services to a larger footprint, providing customers with anything, anytime, anywhere."