Dive Brief:
- Kroger's director of digital and eCommerce spoke openly about the retailer's online plans at a conference in the company's headquarters in Cincinnati.
- There were no real surprises in the remarks by Matt Thompson, but there was a solid suggestion that the nation's largest supermarket owner has committed fully to a digital future.
- The keys to Kroger initiatives at this stage are to help save money for customers through digital coupons (a move made easier by Kroger's recent purchase of You TECH) and to save time for customers by rolling out technology that remembers previous shopping patterns and offers recommendations.
Dive Insight:
Kroger isn't noted for being forthcoming or open about its plans. So the fact that a company executive would speak publicly and enthusiastically about digital — even if he didn't say anything controversial or surprising — is worth noting.
Just 11 months ago Kroger's outgoing CEO said he wasn't worried about the rise of online grocery shopping. Now Kroger seems convinced that the future is online and has nearly arrived.