Here some things to know about the new automated warehouse, which is also known as “the shed.”
MORE: What robots and 400 new jobs will do inside Kroger’s new $55M Monroe facility
1. It’s the first of its kind in the nation
The new automated warehouse facility will lead the way in the United States as the country’s first high-tech customer fulfillment center. Kroger said it plans to announce 20 similar facilities in the next three years to bring customers “fresher food faster than ever before” and accelerating its ability to provide “anything, anytime, anywhere.”
Two of those sites already have been selected, one in fast-growing Groveland, Florida, and the other in the Mid-Atlantic region.
2. It will speed up the process of online grocery shopping.
Ocado Solutions’ Ocado Smart Platform will allow Kroger to assemble an order of approximately 50 items in six minutes with robotics in the automated warehouse. In contrast, it takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes for a grocery store employee to pick up those same items from various areas of a brick-and-mortar Kroger location
3. It’s an economic boon to Butler County
Kroger is investing more than $55 million into the project, including purchasing nearly 100 acres along Ohio 63 in Monroe for $3.1 million. It is slated create more than 400 jobs when it opens in spring 2021.
MORE: Now hiring hundreds, Monroe’s Amazon facility closer to operation nearly a year after construction
4. It is one of several projects creating jobs in Monroe
Monroe is enjoying a surge in business growth with multiple companies investing, hiring, and expanding. The list includes Amazon, which is slated to hire more than 750 employees to open its new facility in the portion of Monroe that is located in Warren County.
Also creating new jobs in the city will be Crane Consumables, UGN, Deceuninck North America and Lahlouh, Home Depot’s Rapid Deployment Center, Hayneedle, Kohl’s and others.
5. It received economic incentives to become a reality
The partnership between Kroger and Ocado was announced in May 2018 and the companies in November announced America’s first automated warehouse would be located in Monroe. To help make that a reality, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority voted last December to approve an 8-year, 1.362 percent tax credit for the project.
The project also received the support of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, REDI Cincinnati and Monroe City Council.
MORE: What’s next? Big week for Butler County jobs sets up more moves
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