Technology and its application have become a significant element in the strategy The Kroger Co. has pursued lately, and now the company announced that it is giving shoppers additional access to electric vehicle charging stations.
Kroger stated that the EV station expansion is part of a commitment to helping customers make sustainable choices. The company tested and phased in charger installations by collaborating with Blink, Electrify America, EVgo, Tesla and Volta to bring hundreds of stations to stores in select markets across the United States. It has rolled out more than 350 charging stations in areas of Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, Kroger noted, with several more such facilities planned for opening by year’s end. The company slated future stations for Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia.
“Increasing our customers’ access to EV charging stations at convenient Kroger locations supports our collective transition to a lower-carbon economy,” said Kroger Yael Cosset, Kroger senior vp and chief information officer, in announcing the expansion. “We are leveraging technology and innovation to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and are offering customers easy ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle.”
Earlier this month, the company announced that Kroger Delivery had begun service to South Florida residents with the opening of a new distribution spoke location in Miami. The 60,000-square-foot spoke facility works in concert with an Ocado-enabled fulfillment center in Groveland, FL. It serves as a last-mile cross-dock location that efficiently expands the Kroger Delivery ability to serve more customers, according to Kroger. The Ocado-developed technology combines artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and automation in sorting and routing orders.
Andrea Colby, e-commerce corporate affairs and communications manager for Kroger maintained, “We offer customers a more convenient option to access fresh food and grocery items. Kroger Delivery is an easy, seamless way to order groceries, have them arrive in refrigerated vans, delivered to your door by professional, uniformed associates all based on your demanding schedule.”
