As the online grocer expands its rapid delivery business Ocado Zoom, Ocado has announced its has opened a unit in Canning Town, London. The site is to offer customers a choice from more than 10,000 products , which the company claims is ‘five times the size’ of its competitors in the space.
The 13,957 square foot customer fulfilment centre will create 130 jobs for staff including team leaders to warehouse staff and drivers. It is to operate with a fleet of 100% zero emissions delivery vehicles including electric cars, e-cargo-bikes and electric mopeds. As with its main fulfilment centres, picking and packing is largely automated by 70 robots working over a grid.
Ocado say that the Zoom unit will be among the most sustainable in the UK, with electric vehicle charging stations, an e-bike parking bay and 25 car spots.
Ocado Zoom customers will be able to choose between delivery within an hour or a one-hour slot later in the day. They will be charged as little as 99p, and with a promise that if any delivery is late they won’t pay the fee for the next order.
This is the second Ocado Zoom site set up by the company, following another site that opened in Acton in 2019.
“We believe rapid delivery shouldn’t mean compromising on product range, value or quality – our customers in west London tell us they love the wide range available on Zoom by Ocado, which includes M&S lines, great-value Ocado own-label ranges and hyper-local suppliers. We can’t wait to bring all this and more to Newham now, and other places across the UK later this year,” said George Dean, head of Zoom by Ocado.
Within the next 18 months Ocado plans to open three more units – two in London and one in another UK city.