Building a world-class business
Ocado launched as a three-man band back in 2001. Just 10 years later, it employs several thousand talented and "switched-on" people, all of whom play a crucial role in delivering the Ocado service that our customers know and love.
One of our founding principles was to avoid the 'bricks and mortar' approach because it generates much higher food waste, significantly increased emissions (banks of open fridges and freezers, for example) and traffic congestion whilst using precious land in or near towns and city centres.
Instead, we handle customers' orders at a 23-acre, 1.2m sq. ft. dedicated fulfilment centre in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. This Customer Fulfilment Centre (or 'CFC') is the largest of its kind in the world, and currently handles the same order volume as 25 supermarkets.
The four-floor CFC covers the equivalent space of eight football pitches and is operated using smart software and proprietary technology that we have designed from scratch. It houses the world's largest order storage and retrieval system. Combined, its conveyor belts extend over 10 miles. In the absence of a similar system anywhere in the world, we have made a significant investment in this innovative approach.
Supporting the CFC is a network of local 'spokes' and a 75-strong fleet of single and double decker LGVs. Across the spokes, we operate a fleet of over 800 specially-designed delivery vans.
Combined, this current infrastructure enables us to reach 70% of the UK. But the big news is that we're currently working on a second super 'shed' in the West Midlands. This will be able to handle approximately 180,000 orders per week, more than doubling our current capacity. It will provide around 2,000 new jobs, from cutting-edge engineering, logistics and operations roles to picking, packing and delivery opportunities.
We're fast building a world-class business offering a world-class service to our customers, so there's never been a better time to join us, working alongside a bunch of like-minded people who love to challenge the norm and deliver far beyond expectations.
If you want to be part of one of the biggest success stories of the past decade, it's the right time to get in touch.
