Ocado has opened the doors to its first robotic warehouse in Asia with Japanese retailer and partner Aeon.
The Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) in Honda-cho, Chiba-City, Japan, which was unveiled by Aeon and Ocado executives today, will begin taking orders from customers across the Kanto region.
The service will offer a 50,000 SKU product range at scale, as well as Smart Cart function and one-hour delivery slots to customers using Aeon’s ‘Green Beans’ online grocery delivery brand.
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Aeon’s second CFC will be based in Hachioji, Tokyo, with further to follow.
Ocado Group CEO, Tim Steiner, said: “Today marks the launch of something totally new in the Japanese grocery market, bringing a world-leading quality of service online to Aeon Next customers in Tokyo for the first time.
“Grocery spend in Asia is set to outstrip every other region of the globe over the next decade, and online remains the fastest growing channel in grocery across APAC.
“As the market develops, the ecommerce networks Ocado is building with partners in Asia will generate a step-change in the quality of service that customers can expect online.”
Aeon president, Akio Yoshida, added: “We aim to marry the technology platform together with Aeon’s knowledge of customers and products to help transform the way consumers shop and change their daily living by providing a service that offers ease, reliability and a wide choice of products and solutions.”
