Ocado, the UK-based e-commerce technology company, and Lotte Shopping, the South Korean retail operator, have launched their first automated customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Busan, South Korea.
Following a partnership formed in 2022 and initial order fulfilment using Ocado’s in-store software in 2025, the new automated site will serve a catchment covering 4 million households across Busan and the broader Yeongnam region. According to Ocado, the site introduces its automated “Auto-Freezer”, bringing its proprietary “hive and bot” automation into temperatures as low as -25°C, which is expected to achieve more than double the productivity of a traditional manual freezer. The site also supports a “dawn delivery” service, delivering fresh grocery orders before 7am.
The facility incorporates eco-friendly management features, including a 100% electric vehicle fleet for daytime deliveries, energy-efficient 3D-printed bots, and extensive solar panel installations that Lotte expects to reduce annual carbon emissions by over 1,000 tonnes.
Nick De La Vega, chief revenue officer at Ocado, stated: “This is another major milestone for Ocado as we launch one of our most advanced CFCs to date in one of the world’s leading markets for grocery e-commerce”.
Cha Woo Chul, CEO of Lotte Mart & Super, added that the centre would “reshape the paradigm of domestic online grocery shopping” while supporting the creation of 2,000 local jobs.
Source: Ocado
