FROM ROBOTS PACKING YOUR ORDER
TO DRONES FILLING OUT LAST
MINUTE ITEMS.
THE FUTURE OF GROCERY SHOPPING
IS NOW.
FOR MANY, THIS IS WHAT GROCERY
SHOPPING LOOKED LIKE OVER THE
PAST YEAR.
COMPANIES LIKE INSTA CART,
FREQUENT DIRECT AND AMAZON
BRINGING GROCERIES RIGHT TO YOUR
DOOR.
MONTHLY GROCERY DELIVERY SALES
INCREASED 380% FROM $500 MILLION
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO $2.4
BILLION IN MAY.
TO KEEP UP WITH THE EXPLODING
DEMAND, KROGER IS BUILDING HIGH
TECH FULFILLMENT CENTERS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY LIKE THIS ONE HERE
IN OHIO.
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, OUR
CAMERAS ARE GETTING EXCLUSIVE
ACCESS TO SHOW YOU HOW THEYRE
CHANGING TO SHOPPING FOR
GROCERY.
THE FACILITY IS CALLED THE HIVE.
THE GENERAL MANAGER SHOWED US
WHATS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
>> WELCOME TO THE HIVE.
>> WOW.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
>> INSIDE, 800 ROBOTS ZIP AROUND
THIS GRID PACKING UP TO 20,000
ONLINE ORDERS DAILY FOR DELIVERY
TO ANYONE WITHIN A 90 MILE
RADIUM.
>> SO I SEE THEM UP ON THIS
LEVEL, BUT WHERE ARE THEY BEING
FILLED?
>> WHAT YOU DONT SEE UNDERNEATH
IS STACKED FROM THE FLOOR TO THE
CEILING ARE 21 LEVELS OF TOTES.
IN THOSE TOTES ARE PRODUCTS
RANGING FROM BREAD, APPLES,
DIAPERS, ANYTHING YOU WOULD
WANT.
>> THE ROBOTS CAN PICK AND PACK
A FAMILYS ENTIRE ORDER IN 5 TO
10 MINUTES.
>> ANYTHING YOU DO IN A GROCERY,
ALL OF THAT IS HAPPENING AND
BEING MAINTAINED THROUGH THESE
BOTS.
>> ABOUT 400 HUMANS ARE INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESS, AS WELL.
ONCE THE BOTS TAKE OUT THE
GROCERIES, THE ORDER GETS
DROPPED DOWN TO AN ASSOCIATE.
THIS IS LINDSAY AND SHES
PACKING THE ORDER.
THEN THE ITEMS HEAD DOWN A
CONVEYER BELT.
OUTSIDE, A FLEET OF TRUCKS
AWAITS THE ORDERS.
FROZEN AND REFRIGERATED ITEMS
LOADED FIRST INTO THIS SPECIAL
COLD COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY THE
REST.
FINALLY, THE DRIVER HEADS OUT TO
DELIVERY EACH ORDER, INCLUDING
OURSELVES, TO THE HOUSE WE
RENTED.
RIGHT NOW, THE DELIVERY FEE IS
$10, BUT KROGER SAYS NO TIPS ARE
EXPECTED.
ITS NOT JUST ROBOTS.
KROGER HAS LAUNCHED A DRONE
DELIVERY SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS
WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUM OF THIS
STORE IN DAYTON, OHIO.
RIGHT NOW, CUSTOMERS IN THAT
DELIVERY AREA CAN DO TO THIS
ORDER AND ORDER A SPECIALIZED
DELIVERY ORDERED RIGHT TO THEIR
YARD.
SMORES WITH GRAM GRABBINGERS,
MARSHMALLOWS AND MOVIE NIGHT
WITH POPCORN AND SOFT DRINKS.
IM GOING TO TRY IT WITH THE CUP
CAKE BUNDLE.
BOOM, DONE.
SOUNDS GOOD.
AT THE STORE, AN EMPLOYEE
GATHERS MY ITEMS AND PACKAGES
THEM IN THIS BOX SPECIALLY
DESIGNED FOR THE DRONE.
THE WEIGHT LIMIT, 5 POUNDS.
THEN ITS OFF TO THE SKY.
NAVIGATED BY A PILOT.
THERE IT IS, WOW, IT IS MASSIVE.
ITS HERE.
THIS IS A MAIZING.
IT HOVERS OVER THE YARD AND --
BYE.
THE FROSTING.
I INSPECT MY ORDER.
MY CUP CAKE MIX.
AND MY BUTTER.
STILL COLD.
FROM THE EARLY STAGES OF DRONE
DELIVERY TO THIS HIGH TECH HIGH
SPEED FULFILLMENT CENTER, THE
FUTURE OF GROCERIES HAD A
ARRIVED.
>> VERY COOL.
CURRENTLY KROGER HAS TWO
SEPARATIONAL HIVES, THE ONE IN
OHIO WE SHOWED YOU AND ANOTHER
ONE IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.
THEY HAVE PLANS FOR SIX MORE
INCLUDING ONE IN ATLANTA THAT
OPENS THIS YEAR.
EXPECT DRONE DELIVERY IN A
SECOND LOCATION IN ATLANTA.
KROGER HAS NOT SAID WHICH CITY
AND WHEN JUST YET.
>> SO MANY QUESTIONS.
>> ILL DO MY BEST.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE
LIMITATIONS ON DRONE DELIVERY?
>> YES.
THE FAA IS LIMITING THEM TO ONE
MILE FLIGHTS AND FIVE-POUND
PACKAGES.
DRONE EXPRESS, THEY SAY IT IS
CAPABLE OF FLYING A LOT FURTHER
WITH UP TO 15 POUNDS PACKAGES
AND THEIR GOAL RIGHT NOW IS JUST
TO PROVE THEY CAN DO IT SAFELY
AND THEN THEY WANT TO EXPAND.
THEY CANT FLY RIGHT IN AND OUT
AT NIGHT OR IN BAD WEATHER.
>> THATS ABOUT FOUR CASES OF
BEER, I THINK.
>> THATS GOING TO BE A BIGGER
DRONE.
>> KROGER IS DOING THAT.
ITS A MATTER OF TIME.
>> ITS INCREDIBLE.
THE TECHNOLOGY IS UNBELIEVABLE.
IM CONFLICTED.
I ACTUALLY LIKE GOING TO THE
MARKET.
I LIKE WALKING THROUGH.
I LIKE SEEING THE FRESH FISH,
THE DELI, AM I GOING TO GET
SOMETHING FOR DINNER TOMORROW?
I LIKE THE EXPERIENCE.
>> I AGREE, I LOVE GOING TO THE
GROCERY STORE.
ITS THERAPEUTIC FOR ME.
THERES A NEW GENERATION, PEOPLE
DONT EVEN USE CASH ANY MORE
BECAUSE THEYRE SO USED TO
EVERYTHING IS TOUCHLESS OR
THROUGH THE PHONE.
>> I DONT LIKE ALL THAT,
EITHER.
>> GET OFF MY LAWN.