Kroger Dives Into Self-Driving Trucks for Delivery

Gatik’s medium-duty trucks will transport groceries from fulfillment centers to retail locations.

March 20, 2023

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Kroger and Gatik have struck a deal that will see popular items delivered from Kroger’s Dallas-area fulfillment center to nearby retail locations.

In a statement, Gatik said that its “industry-leading autonomous trucks each feature a cold chain-capable 20-foot box designed to transport ambient, refrigerated and frozen goods quickly, safely and efficiently. The collaboration involves consistent, repeated delivery runs multiple times per day, seven days per week.”

“Kroger’s commitment to redefining service levels for its customers through innovative technology meant that our collaboration came together very quickly,” said Gautam Narang, co-founder and CEO, Gatik. “We’re deeply familiar with operating our autonomous fleet within the Dallas ecosystem, and we’re very excited to bring that experience to support Kroger in its mission to reshape the future of goods delivery.”

“We are so excited to see Gatik trucks starting to deliver groceries throughout our Dallas division,” said Raúl Bujalil, vice president, supply chain strategy and technology enablers, Kroger. “These autonomous box trucks will help us continue our commitment to creating a seamless shopping experience—where customers can access their favorite fresh foods, with zero compromise on value or convenience.”

“Many in the autonomous driving industry are cutting staff or shutting down, but Gatik has found a niche by limiting its work to routes with relatively little complexity,” according to Reuters. In addition, Gatik has focused on the middle mile, in which trucks do not cross state borders and operate at lower speeds. The company has hauled more than half a million customer orders on its mid-sized box trucks that have no human in the cab.

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