CINCINNATI, Aug. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE:
KR) today announced it has signed an agreement with the University of Cincinnati (UC) to operate an
innovation lab within the school's 1819 Innovation Hub.
"Kroger's new partnership with the University of Cincinnati is one more way we are investing to
create the now and future of retail," said Chris Hjelm, Kroger's executive vice president and
chief information officer. "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 1819 Innovation Hub is located within the Uptown Innovation Corridor and serves as a beacon of community innovation and
impact in partnership with higher education. The recently-opened state-of-the-art space is the region's newest destination for
thinking, making, doing, discovery and delivery.
Kroger will staff the 1819 Innovation Hub with resources, including R&D engineers and software developers, alongside UC
faculty. The partnership will also feature a dynamic student co-op and internship program.
"The 1819 Innovation Hub is a coworking community where we will build and discover the next generation of technology and
talent," continued Mr. Hjelm. "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."
UC's Innovation Agenda, as part of President Neville G. Pinto's new strategic direction,
recognizes that people have choices when they decide to locate, and that proximity to other like-minded individuals is often
critical to the decision-making process. By providing a place where innovative people and companies can thrive together in
today's rapid pace of change, Cincinnati becomes one of those cities chosen for location.
"As the anchor tenant of our burgeoning innovation district, UC's 1819 Innovation Hub is a microcosm of the bigger picture,"
said David J. Adams, University of Cincinnati's chief innovation
officer. "Companies are choosing to co-locate here with us for proximity and access to the talent that a major research
university provides. As the district comes to life with residential and retail options, the mix of students, faculty, industry
and community that you see in our knowledge action center today will spill out into the surrounding neighborhood, making
innovation a visual place in Cincinnati."
Pinto adds, "Working with a hometown company and one of the world's largest retailers gives our university an opportunity to
make an impact not only locally but also globally. This is the kind of partnership that allows our students and faculty to work
on real-world challenges in a cross-disciplinary way, while offering our corporate partners added value with access to talent,
expertise, research, creativity, and specialized equipment and technology."
The 1819 Innovation Hub boasts a 12,000-square-feet makerspace and micro-factory, and state-of-the art classrooms and
multi-purpose rooms. The space officially opened earlier this week for the fall semester. Kroger's 2,500-square-feet innovation
lab will be located on the third floor of the four-story building. Construction is underway, and the company's space is expected
to be complete in October.
Kroger Technology is a proud partner with the Cincinnati
USA Regional Chamber's "Cincy is IT" initiative to attract top tech talent to the
region. The company also supports Cincinnati-based Cintrifuse – a public-private partnership established to drive the next
phase of growth for the Midwest region through innovation enabled and delivered by startups – including sponsoring an
executive-in-residence.
Earlier this summer, Kroger announced its digital headquarters in downtown Cincinnati with plans to increase its current
digital team of 500 associates to 1,000 by 2020.
Last June, Kroger Technology was named one of the best places to work in IT by Computerworld. To learn more about Kroger Technology culture, careers and internships, visit kroger.com/livekt/.
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are nearly half a million
associates who serve over nine million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food
stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities
by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.