Ocado extends Auchan Retail partnership and expands into Poland

The agreement marks the second Auchan business to partner with Ocado, after its Spanish arm joined forces with the retailer last summer.

As part of the partnership, Auchan Poland and Ocado have laid out plans to build a customer fulfilment centre in the Warsaw region, beginning in 2024, with plans for additional CFC locations later down the line.

Auchan Poland will also leverage Ocado’s in-store solutions to its hypermarkets across the country, covering both its food and non-food business.

Ocado will also provide access to its technologies including its robotics, software platforms and engineering suites.

The retailer said it expects the deal will create significant long-term value, with certain fees paid upfront and during the development phase, then ongoing fees linked to both sales achieved and installed capacity in its CFCs.

Ocado and Auchan Retail are continuing to explore options to expand into different geographies in future.

Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner said: “We are pleased to bring a second Auchan business to our global platform, and to welcome Auchan Poland to the club of innovative and forward-looking retailers who are using the Ocado Smart Platform to power their online grocery business.

“Today though, we recognise that this announcement comes at a very difficult time for everyone in Poland, including many cherished colleagues working in our technology development centres in Wrocław, Krakow and elsewhere. The human tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, and the refugee crisis along its borders, has shocked the world.

“My thoughts, and those of everyone at Ocado Group, are with the Ukrainian people and everyone impacted by Russia’s invasion of their country.”