Ocado sees shares plummet after blow from Kroger site closures
Ocado has seen its shares plunge after warning over a hit of around 50 million dollars (ยฃ38 million) from its US partnerโs decision to close three warehouses.
The online grocer and retail technology firm lost over a fifth of its stock market value โ 22% โ in Tuesday afternoon trading after revealing Krogerโs plans to shut the sites.
Ocado said the move would knock fee revenue by 50 million dollars (ยฃ38 million) in 2025-26, although it added the firm will also receive 250 million dollars (ยฃ190 million) in compensation for early closure of the warehouses.
The sites are expected to shut in January.
Ocado will continue to operate five sites for Kroger in Monroe, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver and Detroit.
The firm said it would also continue to support Kroger with logistics operations and driving profitable sales volume growth in the remaining sites.
Ocado added it continues to expect โsignificant growthโ in the US market through automation of warehouses and store-based automation.