Kroger Moves Digital Team to New Downtown Cincinnati HQ

The Kroger Co. is opening a new headquarters for its digital team in downtown Cincinnati, where it plans to grow headcount from 600 to more than 1,000 over the next three years.

Intending to help Cincinnati become a “destination for digital and tech talent,” Kroger, which is based in the city, will begin moving about 500 existing digital jobs from Blue Ash and 100 from its general offices to the Atrium Two building, located at 221 East Fourth St.

The news comes one week after Kroger reported digital sales growth of 66 percent during its first quarter, and that its existing seamless coverage area now reaches approximately 75 percent of its customers. This includes its network of ClickList locations, stores offering home delivery through Instacart and other partners, as well as ship-to-home capabilities.

Kroger’s goal is to reach 100 percent of its customers with the seamless experience and, over time, reach across America.

"Kroger is creating a seamless shopping environment so customers can choose how to engage with us, both in-store and online, because the future of retail will include both physical and digital experiences," said Yael Cosset, Kroger's chief digital officer. "As part of Restock Kroger, our plan to redefine the grocery customer experience, we are investing in innovative digital and technology infrastructure. Our new Digital HQ is an important step on our journey to create a truly seamless shopping environment."

Also last week, Kroger Technology was named to Computerworld’s Top 100 Best Places to Work in IT. Other initiatives Kroger has performed recently to build its digital prowess include:

• Inking an exclusive partnership with UK-based online grocery supermarket Ocado and merging with meal-kit service Home Chef to better evolve and grow its digital and omnichannel business
• Partnering Kroger Technology with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's "Cincy is IT" initiative to attract top tech talent to the region
• Supporting Cincinnati-based Cintrifuse – a public-private partnership established to drive the next phase of growth for the Midwest region through innovation enabled and delivered by startups – including sponsoring an executive-in-residence

The Kroger Co. operates 2,779 retail food stores under a variety of banner names. It holds the No. 2 spot on Progressive Grocer’s Super 50 list of top grocers in the United States.