Kroger to provide fully autonomous delivery

The Kroger Co., in another way to differentiate itself through convenience, is partnering with Nuro “to redefine the grocery customer experience” by piloting fully autonomous delivery.

The Cincinnati-based retailer and Nuro, maker of the world's first fully unmanned road vehicle, are working to make the convenience of grocery delivery accessible and affordable for customers everywhere, according to a Kroger press release.

Through this innovative partnership, customers can place same-day delivery orders through Kroger's ClickList ordering system and Nuro's app. During the test, orders will be delivered by Nuro's fleet of autonomous vehicles.

This is the first application and deployment of Nuro's hardware and software. The pilot market will be announced soon and is expected to begin this fall.

Kroger's expansive retail footprint of 2,800 stores in 35 states combined with Nuro's technology platform will change the status quo of grocery delivery through convenience at a low price, the press release stated.

"We are incredibly excited about the potential of our innovative partnership with Nuro to bring the future of grocery delivery to customers today," said Yael Cosset, Kroger's chief digital officer, in a press release. “Partnering with Nuro, a leading technology company, will create customer value by providing Americans access to fast and convenient delivery at a fair price."

Dave Ferguson, co-founder Mountain View, Calif.-based Nuro, said “unmanned delivery will be a game-changer for local commerce, and together with Kroger, we're thrilled to test this new delivery experience to bring grocery customers new levels of convenience and value.”

Our safe, reliable, and affordable service, combined with Kroger's ubiquitous brand, is a powerful first step in our mission to accelerate the benefits of robotics for everyday life,” Ferguson said.