CINCINNATI – The Kroger Co. announced March 14 that it was taking its partnership with Nuro and its autonomous grocery delivery vehicles to Houston. The service will be available through two Houston Kroger locations and will reach customers in four local zip codes.

Kroger began using Nuro vehicles for delivery in August 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. In late 2018, the partnership expanded to include Nuro’s RI custom vehicles, making the nation’s first fully unmanned delivery service available to the general public.

“Our Arizona pilot program confirmed the flexibility and benefits provided by autonomous vehicles and how much customers are open to more innovative solutions,” says Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer. “It’s always been our shared vision to scale this initiative to new markets, using world-changing technology to enable a new type of delivery service for our customers. We operate 102 stores in Houston — an energetic market that embraces digital and technology advancement. The launch is one more way we are committed to sustainably providing our customers with anything, anytime, and anywhere, the way they want it.”

Customers can place orders for delivery seven days a week for a $5.95 flat fee with no minimum order.