UK online supermarket Ocado has partnered with Australian supermarket chain Coles Supermarkets to develop the Coles online grocery business in Australia.
The deal will see Coles Supermarkets deploying the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP) to build robotic distribution centres (RDCs), in Sydney and Melbourne, within four years.
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Coles Online will use the RCDs to deliver customers’ orders in large urban areas across Australia. It will also use Ocado’s store-pick software to serve customers in less populated areas.
Coles Group CEO Steven Cain said: “We are delighted to be partnering with them to make life easier for Coles’ customers here in Australia.
“Ocado’s ongoing investment and retail partnerships around the world will help us continue to improve our offer into the future.”
The online supermarket will also offer a range of customised support and engineering services to ensure smooth e-commerce operations. Coles will offer certain upfront fees to Ocado after signing the contract and during the development phase.
Ocado CEO Tim Steiner said: “Our unique, proprietary and industry-leading technology is bringing new growth opportunities to retailers around the world and changing the customer experience of grocery shopping.
“Coles is a grocer with a global reputation for innovation and outstanding commitment to their customers, and I am delighted we will be working together in the years to come to reshape the food retail landscape in Australia.”
Coles currently operates 818 supermarkets, 911 liquor stores and 712 Coles Express petrol stations across Australia. The supermarket chain announced its partnership with online marketplace eBay to accelerate online grocery shopping, in Australia, earlier this month.
