Ocado to Cut Up to 1,000 Jobs in Major Restructuring

British technology and online grocery firm Ocado is preparing for a substantial reduction in its workforce, with plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs. This move represents approximately 5% of its total staff and signals a renewed focus on cost-saving measures. The majority of these redundancies are anticipated to occur within Ocado's UK head office, primarily affecting technology divisions and back-office functions such as legal, finance, and human resources.

This restructuring follows a difficult period marked by setbacks in Ocado's automated warehouse business. Notably, its Canadian partner Sobeys decided to close its robotic warehouse in Calgary. Furthermore, U.S. grocery partner Kroger, Ocado's largest collaborator, announced the closure of three automated warehouses. The company has previously stated its core priority to become cash-flow positive during the 2025/26 financial year, which begins in December, by reducing expenses. It is scheduled to release its annual financial results on February 26.