Kroger’s newest partnership helps to cultivate IT talent in-house
Kroger Co. is making another move to further position itself as a digital leader.
The nation’s largest supermarket operator is partnering with the University of Cincinnati (UC) to operate an innovation lab within the school's 1819 Innovation Hub. The company’s goal is to cultivate Kroger’s “next generation of technology and talent,” according to the company.
Kroger will staff the recently-opened state-of-the-art space with resources, including R&D engineers and software developers, who will work alongside UC faculty. The partnership will also feature a student co-op and internship program.
"Our vision is to create a talent pipeline that supports our business and positions the region as a place for digital and technology students and professionals,” said Chris Hjelm, Kroger's executive VP and CIO.
"The 1819 Innovation Hub is a co-working community where we will build and discover the next generation of technology and talent," added Hjelm. "This innovative collaboration is driven by Restock Kroger and provides the Kroger technology team another creative space to partner and develop solutions to redefine the grocery customer experience."
The partnership comes on the heels of Kroger’s plan to established a separate headquarters for its digital team in downtown Cincinnati. In June, the grocer announced its new technology office will house approximately 600 existing Kroger digital associates at first, who are being relocated from another facility. The retailer said it expects to grow its digital team to more than 1,000 over the next three years.
The nation’s largest supermarket operator is partnering with the University of Cincinnati (UC) to operate an innovation lab within the school's 1819 Innovation Hub. The company’s goal is to cultivate Kroger’s “next generation of technology and talent,” according to the company.
Kroger will staff the recently-opened state-of-the-art space with resources, including R&D engineers and software developers, who will work alongside UC faculty. The partnership will also feature a student co-op and internship program.
"Our vision is to create a talent pipeline that supports our business and positions the region as a place for digital and technology students and professionals,” said Chris Hjelm, Kroger's executive VP and CIO.
"The 1819 Innovation Hub is a co-working community where we will build and discover the next generation of technology and talent," added Hjelm. "This innovative collaboration is driven by Restock Kroger and provides the Kroger technology team another creative space to partner and develop solutions to redefine the grocery customer experience."
The partnership comes on the heels of Kroger’s plan to established a separate headquarters for its digital team in downtown Cincinnati. In June, the grocer announced its new technology office will house approximately 600 existing Kroger digital associates at first, who are being relocated from another facility. The retailer said it expects to grow its digital team to more than 1,000 over the next three years.