UK-based technology company Ocado Group and AEON have revealed plans to construct a third customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Kuki-Miyashiro, Saitama prefecture, Japan.
The move signifies the ongoing success of the exclusive partnership formed in 2019, aimed at advancing AEON NEXT's online grocery business through the Ocado Smart Platform.
The announcement coincides with the first anniversary of AEON NEXT's online delivery brand.
The first CFC, which began operations in July 2023 in the city of Chiba, serves the Kanto region and is a testament to the partnership's commitment to enhancing online grocery services.
A second CFC in Hachioji is scheduled to go live in 2026, further extending the reach and efficiency of AEON's online operations.
Ocado's technology is pivotal in offering a broad product range and achieving high levels of freshness and convenience for Japanese customers.
AEON also plans to integrate Ocado's latest technologies, including on-grid robotic pick to its existing operations.
This upgrade is expected to significantly improve labour productivity and address the challenges of labour availability in Japan by reducing operational costs.
The partnership has plans for additional CFCs to further develop AEON's service ecosystem.
Ocado Group CEO Tim Steiner said: "Today is an exciting moment for AEON and Ocado's relationship as we deepen our already strong partnership.
"As demonstrated by the state-of-the-art CFC live in Honda, Ocado is helping AEON NEXT to provide a seamless online grocery experience to customers across Tokyo. We can't wait to bring this service to even more customers in the years to come."
