Online grocery retailer Ocado has partnered with Canadian retail chain Sobeys, in a move which will see Sobeys utilise Ocado’s ‘smart delivery’ system.
Both brands will build a shared automated customer fulfilment warehouse in Toronto to serve customers, which will take approximately two years.
Ocado stated that the companies will consider building more facilities in other Canadian cities in future.
Sobeys owns and operates 1,500 stores throughout Canada under various names, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawton’s Drug Stores.
Tim Steiner, CEO of Ocado Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with one of the leaders in North American grocery retailing.
“Sobeys is a highly successful and much admired Canadian business and we are proud that they have chosen Ocado Solutions to partner with to build their online grocery business”.
Michael Medline, president & CEO of Sobeys, said: “Sobeys intends to play to win in Canadian online grocery shopping. We are very excited to bring this best-in-the-world grocery e-commerce experience to Canadian customers.
“This unique and innovative Sobeys and Ocado experience will offer consumers the biggest selection, freshest products and most reliable delivery available anywhere on the planet.
“Our end-to-end e-commerce solution will allow Sobeys to build an online offer in a manner that is profitable and creates exceptional value for our customers, investors and supplier partners.”
Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions, added: “Channel shift to online in North America is gaining pace as consumers increasingly seek the benefits of grocery shopping from the comforts of their own homes, and as retailers attempt to offer services to meet this growing customer trend.
“We are pleased to be partnering with innovative and forward-looking retailers such as Sobeys.”
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