Kroger said Tuesday it’s closing three automated fulfillment centers as part of an effort to make its delivery operations faster and more profitable. The nation’s largest grocer will close facilities in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; Frederick, Maryland; and Groveland, Florida, in January. Kroger partnered with British online grocer Ocado in 2018 to build warehouses where robots would pick and pack grocery delivery orders. But Kroger said earlier this fall that for many orders, it’s faster and cheaper to fulfill them in stores. Kroger is also expanding its partnerships with third party delivery companies, including DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart.
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