LONDON, ENGLAND - Forward-thinking provider of automated grocery solutions Ocado Solutions made waves in the U.S. earlier this year when the U.K.-based tech company announced a partnership with Kroger that would see the grocer build 20 automated fulfillment centers throughout the States. Ocado subsequently announced a similar agreement with Sobeys in Canada, and now, Ocado may be eyeing a bigger part of the North American pie, so to speak. Ocado has announced that it is building a new U.S. office in the Washington, DC, area.

“We selected the DC area for its great connections to cities across the U.S. and Canada, as well as for its strong technology and engineering talent pools,” said Luke Jensen, the CEO of Ocado Solution, in a statement reported on by Reuters.

Just last month, Ocado sold half of its U.K. retail business to rival retailer Marks and Spencer for 750 million pounds (or $995 million USD), and now the newly-lean and liquid grocer seems poised to double down on its North American ambitions.

At the time Ocado entered into its partnership with Kroger, Tim Steiner, CEO of Ocado Group, outlined the promise of Ocado to potential partners in the U.S.

“Ocado's unique, proprietary, and industry-leading technology is set to transform the shopping experience of consumers around the world,” said Tim Steiner, CEO of Ocado Group. “Our success as a retailer shows that we can offer customers unrivaled choice, quality, and convenience, efficiently and profitably. The opportunity to partner with Kroger to transform the way in which U.S. customers buy grocery represents a huge opportunity to redefine the grocery experience of Kroger's customers and create value for the stakeholders of both Kroger and Ocado. As we work through the terms of the services agreement with Kroger in the coming months, we will be preparing the business for a transformative relationship which will reshape the food retailing industry in the U.S. in the years to come.”

AndNowUKnow will continue to report with updates.

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