As many retailers continue to pursue growth through the expansion of brick and mortar locations, Kroger is making strategic plays in the e-commerce space. The grocer recently announced that is is officially offering grocery delivery in the Tampa, Florida, market.
Kroger’s Florida warehouse is an “exciting arm” of Kroger’s massive fulfillment center located in Groveland, according to Tampa Bay Business Journal. The Orlando warehouse, which is a result of the retailer’s partnership with British e-commerce giant Ocado, began delivering groceries in Central Florida in early April, and the Tampa warehouse is set to provide Kroger Fresh products to the coast, as Kroger’s customer fulfillment centers complete delivery orders within a 90-mile radius.
Deliveries have already commenced in Tampa, a Kroger spokeswoman confirmed in an email on Sunday, according to the source. This move marks the retailer’s entry into the Tampa market, signifying a crucial expansion for the company. Kroger currently has three other locations in Florida, in Groveland and Fernandina Beach.
This ambitious expansion plan kicked off with the opening of Kroger’s first U.S. Customer Fulfillment Center in Monroe, Ohio, a city just north of Cincinnati, back in April.
“We’re incredibly proud to achieve this milestone that advances our position as one of America’s leading e-commerce companies,” Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO, said when the Monroe facility opened. “The momentum we’re experiencing is well-timed with the evolution of Kroger Delivery, underpinning the permanent shift in grocery consumer behavior and need for enterprising and modern e-commerce and last-mile solutions—today’s true competitive horsepower.”
As the grocer continues to eye growth in this competitive market, what other strategies will we see next? Keep clicking on Deli Market News to find out.
