25 years of Ocado Group from online grocer to global technology pioneer

From bold beginnings to global breakthroughs

For the past 25 years, Ocado Group has redefined what’s possible in online grocery fulfilment and logistics. What began as the UK’s first pureplay online grocer has evolved into a global technology business, transforming how groceries move from supplier to customer through innovation, precision, and an unrelenting focus on efficiency.

They started with a unique business model and a winning customer proposition. What followed was a journey of transformation—from a successful e-commerce operation to a technology platform that now powers some of the world’s most advanced online grocery systems.

As they mark this milestone, they celebrate the people, partnerships, and innovations that have shaped their story—and reaffirm their commitment to the ambition and ingenuity that will define the next 25 years.

Born to disrupt: their early years (2000–2014)

When Ocado was founded in 2000, online grocery was still in its infancy. Most viewed it as a logistical nightmare, given the tight margins, perishable products, multiple temperature zones, and fast turnaround times. But they saw opportunity where others saw obstacles.

Rather than optimise an existing bricks-and-mortar model, they reimagined how groceries could be fulfilled in a digital age—placing automation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction at the core.

By 2002, they were already delivering to households across the UK from their first automated Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) in Hatfield. The seeds of their technology-led approach were firmly planted.

Recognising early that off-the-shelf systems couldn’t deliver on the demands of online grocery, they started building their own proprietary technology. Unlike third-party vendors, they were solving problems they faced first-hand—designing systems with full control, visibility, and the agility to innovate rapidly.

This in-house innovation would later evolve into the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP)—a modular, end-to-end ecommerce and logistics solution tailored to the complexities of online grocery. Today, OSP powers some of the most forward-thinking grocery businesses around the world.

By 2009, they had launched the UK’s first transactional grocery app, Ocado on the Go. In 2010, they were listed on the London Stock Exchange and fulfilling over 100,000 orders per week—proof that online grocery wasn’t just viable, it was scalable.

Their first strategic retail partnership came in 2013, signing with Morrisons and beginning deliveries the following year.

Built to scale: a decade of global growth and innovation (2015–2025)

Between 2015 and 2025, Ocado Group expanded rapidly—not only in scale, but in capability. What began as internal software matured into a world-class commercial platform. Their automation journey started with conveyor belts and shuttles, but to meet rising global demand, they engineered a new generation of robotic fulfilment centres.

Their grid-and-bot system transformed the speed and accuracy of order picking, allowing a 50-item basket to be assembled in just minutes. This wasn’t just an evolution—it was a reinvention of what fulfilment could look like.

Retailers around the world took notice.

Between 2017 and 2021, they secured strategic partnerships with leading grocers including Bon Preu (Catalonia), Groupe Casino (France), ICA (Sweden), Kroger (US), Sobeys (Canada), AEON (Japan), and Coles (Australia). These partnerships brought cutting-edge automation and AI-powered logistics to some of the world’s most competitive grocery markets.

In 2019, they entered into a landmark joint venture with Marks & Spencer, forming Ocado Retail Ltd—a union that paired technological leadership with one of the UK’s most trusted grocery brands.

Their global presence grew further in 2022 through a commercial agreement with Lotte in South Korea—one of the most advanced digital grocery markets in the world.

By 2024, they added Alcampo in Spain and Auchan Retail in Poland to their growing international portfolio.

Beyond grocery, Ocado’s technology expanded into new industries. Ocado Intelligent Automation (OIA) secured its first deal with McKesson Canada, bringing their fulfilment expertise into the pharmaceutical sector. The same year, they launched their 13th international partnership—with Panda in Saudi Arabia—and accelerated the rollout of their Re:imagined innovations.

Back in the UK, Ocado Retail surpassed one million active customers in 2024, underscoring the continued strength of their model in a fiercely competitive market.

Today, they continue to break new ground—across markets, industries, and technological frontiers.

Looking forward

The future of Ocado Group will be shaped by the same values that brought them this far: invention, precision, and a relentless pursuit of what’s possible when software, hardware, and people align with purpose.

Their culture fosters curiosity, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking—an environment where breakthrough ideas evolve into scalable, real-world systems.

They won’t follow trends. They’ll set them.

Original article

Image source: ocadogroup.com