Ocado operations disrupted as robots crash, cause fire

Online grocer Ocado's operations were disrupted by a warehouse fire caused by a robot collision, which required 800 staff evacuated. —AFP

Ocado Group Plc expects "some disruption to operations” after a robot collision caused a fire in one of its warehouses, the online grocer said in a statement.

The "collision of three bots” that are used to fill orders triggered the fire, it said on Saturday. The company expects the facility to begin operating again "within the coming week” as the damage is limited to a small section of "less than 1%” of the grid.

About 800 staff evacuated and no injuries were reported, the London Fire Brigade said in a separate statement.