Kroger has partnered with autonomous vehicle manufacturer Nuro to trial an autonomous grocery delivery service in the US, which will begin later this year.
Aiming to redefine grocery deliveries in the US, the trial will allow consumers to order groceries for same-day delivery through Kroger’s ClickList ordering system or through the Nuro app.
Grocery orders will then be delivered by Nuro’s fleet of fully-autonomous on-road vehicles directly to consumers.
Kroger claims that the trial will begin this autumn, and a pilot market will be announced in the near future.
Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer said: “We are incredibly excited about the potential of our innovative partnership with Nuro to bring the future of grocery delivery to customers today.
“As part of Restock Kroger, we have already started to redefine the grocery customer experience and expand the coverage area for our anything, anytime and anywhere offering.
“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 of Nuro added: “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.”
The trial is the latest move by Kroger to boost its home delivery capabilities, as it follows the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement with delivery service Ocado earlier this year.
Kroger also maintains a strong presence in the meal kit delivery segment, as the retailer completed the acquisition of Home Chef earlier this year in a deal that could rise to $700 million over the next five years.
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