Kroger will discontinue operations at its Groveland, Florida, fulfillment center early next year as part of a major shift in the company’s e-commerce strategy. The announcement came this week in a corporate press release outlining broader changes to Kroger’s online delivery model.
The Groveland facility—launched as part of Kroger’s high-profile partnership with Ocado—served as the hub for the grocer’s delivery-only presence in Central Florida. With Kroger operating no traditional supermarkets in the region, the fulfillment center was the company’s sole footprint in the Central Florida grocery market.
Kroger confirmed it will close the Groveland center in January, along with similar automated facilities in Wisconsin and Maryland, as it pivots away from its current model in favor of a more streamlined, profit-focused approach. The company said its revised strategy is aimed at improving customer experience and reducing operational costs.
The decision effectively marks Kroger’s exit from the Central Florida market, ending a multi-year effort to compete with Publix, Walmart, and Amazon through delivery-only grocery service. The company did not immediately say how many local jobs will be impacted, but noted it will work with associates on transition options where possible.
Kroger emphasized that while the Groveland closure ends its Central Florida operations, the company remains committed to e-commerce and will expand alternative delivery methods in regions where it maintains a physical store presence.
