Ocado has unveiled its inaugural robotic warehouse in Asia, which has commenced operations as the customer fulfillment center (CFC) for Aeon, one of Japan’s leading retailers.

Located in the Kanto region, the warehouse has already begun accepting orders from customers for Aeon’s popular “Green Beans” brand.

The partnership between Ocado and Aeon was established in 2019 with the aim of expanding Aeon’s online grocery sales capabilities. By 2030, Aeon is projected to have a capacity of approximately 600 billion yen ($4.21 billion) in online grocery sales, with the target set at 1 trillion yen by 2035.

In addition to the current facility, Ocado has confirmed that Aeon’s second CFC in Japan will be situated in Hachioji, Tokyo, with plans for further expansions in the future.

Ocado CEO Tim Steiner highlighted the significant growth potential for the grocery sector in Asia, predicting that it will surpass other regions in the coming decade. Moreover, he emphasised that online remains the fastest-growing channel for grocery sales across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

While Ocado’s shares have experienced a decline of 34% over the past year, they saw a surge of 47% on June 22 following a report by The Times, which hinted at a potential takeover interest from Amazon.com.