British online grocer, Ocado has expanded its partnership with AEON, announcing plans to launch a third Customer Fulfilment Centre in Japan.
The new facility will be based in in Kuki-Miyashiro, the Saitama prefecture of Japan, and will go live in 2027. It will then be followed by a second CFC in Hachioji.
The firms had initially partnered in 2019 to develop the online operations of the AEON NEXT grocery business via the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP). In July 2023, the first jointly-developed customer fulfilment centre opened in Honda-cho, Midori-ku, Chiba-city.
In addition to the network expansion, AEON will leverage Ocado’s expertise to upgrade all live operations with the newest tech developments, including On-Grid Robotic Pick (OGRP). This is expected to drive increased levels of labour productivity, enabling AEON to further reduce the cost to serve and address long term challenges of labour availability in Japan.
