Business
Update on Kroger Partnership
Ocado Group plc has reached an agreement with Kroger for a one-off cash payment of $350 million, expected in January 2026, to compensate Ocado for Kroger's decisions to close three customer fulfilment centres (CFCs) in January 2026 and not proceed with the Charlotte (NC) CFC. This arrangement will reduce Ocado's fee revenue in FY26 by approximately $50 million. Despite these changes, Ocado and Kroger continue to collaborate across five live CFCs, with Ocado's technology being deployed to enhance operational efficiency and capacity, including the introduction of new AutoFreezer technology in Phoenix (AZ). Ocado reaffirms its commitment to achieving cash flow positivity in FY26. Disclaimer*
About this update from Ocado Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nTHIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIED OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014, AS AMENDED (AND INCLUDING AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED).\n \nOcado Group plc\n5 December 2025\n \nOcado Group plc\nUpdate on Kroger Partnership\n \nOcado Group plc (\"Ocado\" or the \"Company\") and Kroger have agreed a one-off cash payment of $350m to compensate Ocado following Kroger's recent decisions to optimise its CFC network. This payment reflects Kroger's decision to close three CFCs in January 2026, as well as a decision by Kroger not to proceed with Charlotte (NC), one of the two planned CFCs due to go-live in 2026.\n \nOcado and Kroger continue to work closely together across the five live CFCs in Monroe (OH), Dallas (TX), Atlanta (GA), Denver (CO), and Detroit (MI). Ocado teams remain well-embedded within this network of CFCs, supporting significant progress in operational efficiency, volume growth, and increasing same day availability, resulting in a significant improvement in financial performance.\n \nThe rollout of Ocado's latest 'Re:imagined' products continues across Kroger's fulfilment network, enabling significant increases in productivity and network capacity. In Detroit, we have expanded the initial capacity of the site, with Kroger ordering further capacity to be utilised in 2026. Ocado's new AutoFreezer technology will also feature for the first time in Kroger's upcoming CFC in Phoenix (AZ).\n \nTim Steiner, CEO of Ocado Group, said:\n \n\"We continue to invest significant resources to support our partners at Kroger, and to help them build on our longstanding partnership. Ocado's technology has evolved significantly to include both the new technologies that Kroger is currently deploying in its CFC network, as well as new fulfilment products that bring Ocado's technology to a wider range of applications, including Store Based Automation to support 'pick up' and immediacy.\"\n \n\"Our partners around the world have already deployed a wide range of these fulfilment technologies to great effect, enabling them to address a wide spectrum of geographies, population densities and online shop...