The new automated facility in southern Dallas will be able to fill 18,000 orders a day under a hub and spoke system that it said last week will reach up into Oklahoma.
The 350,000-square-foot facility has been under construction with Kroger’s technology partner and U.K.-based online grocer Ocado for the last two years. It’s on a 55-acre parcel just south of Interstate 20 at the corner of Cleveland and Telephone roads.— where it has no stores — with an online-only shopping offer when the Dallas facility opens.
The robots know to pick groceries in the optimal order, he said. “If you order both Campbell soup and bread, it will pick the soup first so the bread isn’t squashed.” Each driver can make up to 22 deliveries in an 8- to 10-hour day. Customers preselect a one-hour slot for their delivery. The service costs $9.95 for a single order or $79 for a year of unlimited delivery. Grocery prices are the same as in the store, coupons are accepted and drivers will even recycle grocery bags, Bennett said.