Walmart Celebrates Grand Opening of High-Tech Perishable Distribution Center

Business Wire 16-Jul-2024 11:00 AM

Location brings faster service to Walmart stores and new career opportunities

Walmart associates, local elected officials and community members celebrated the grand opening of a new 730,000 square-foot perishable distribution center (PDC) in Lancaster. The new facility, located 15 miles south of Dallas, receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers and frozen goods for delivery to nearby Walmart stores. The new PDC is Walmart's second Lancaster-based facility, following the next generation fulfillment center that opened in 2023.

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Walmart's new high-tech perishable distribution center is opening in Lancaster, TX (Photo: Business Wire)

"South Dallas County is now home to two of Walmart's newest state-of-the-art facilities," said Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price. "Walmart's investment confirms that Dallas County and the Dallas-Fort Worth region are open for business."

Increased Capacity, Faster Replenishment Speeds

Perishable distribution centers are a strategic part of Walmart's supply chain transformation and keep its more than 4,600 stores stocked with fresh and frozen merchandise. The Lancaster facility is Walmart's second of five new high-tech perishable distribution centers.

State-of-the-art technology enables the retailer to process more than double the volume of a traditional DC, getting items onto store shelves faster than ever before. Associates work with high-tech systems to create the perfect pallet with fragile merchandise, such as eggs and yogurt toward the top, which drastically reduces the number of boxes an associate has to manually stack. The store-ready pallets are built by department, making them easier to unload at the store. This helps maximize space on trucks, reducing transportation costs and creating savings that can be passed on to customers.

"This is a game-changer for our city, blending our skilled workforce with cutting-edge technology to deliver fresh, high-quality food," said Lancaster Mayor Clyde C. Hairston. "Beyond innovation, this center will create sustainable jobs for our community and enhance access to nutritious food."

New Career Opportunities

Additional benefits of this game-changing technology include new career opportunities and pathways for associates. The facility, located at 940 East Pleasant Run Road, is home to more than 500 full-time Walmart associates.

"Walmart is paving the way for good jobs and great careers in the region with the Lancaster perishable distribution center," said Tim Cooper, senior vice president, Grocery Network Operations for Walmart U.S. "This is more than an investment, it's a commitment to our associates, our community, and our future."

The retailer is currently hiring a variety of tech-focused positions, including Automation Equipment Operator. Each job brings with it an opportunity to grow a career at Walmart.

"We're proud to create new opportunities for our associates, equipping them with the skills to manage the advanced robotics technology transforming our business," said Ervin Goad, general manager of the new facility. "Associates at the Lancaster facility will play a pivotal role in making sure our customers have the items they want, when they want them."

Full-time positions qualify for Walmart's total rewards and benefits plans, including medical, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, stock purchase plan and access to a tuition-paid college degree through Walmart's Live Better U. Candidates can search for open positions and complete applications online at careers.walmart.com.

Continued Investment in the Texas Community

During the grand opening, Walmart donated $5,000 to ConqHer, along with $2,500 to both the Lancaster Police and Fire Departments. The donation reflects Walmart's commitment to the community. In fiscal year 2024, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed more than $159 million in cash and in-kind donations to nonprofit organizations in Texas.

Walmart serves Texas customers at 590 retail units and online through Walmart.com. The retailer employs over 176,000 associates in Texas, and supports local business across the state, spending $100.8 billion with suppliers in fiscal year 2024 and supporting 300,015 supplier jobs.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 255 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2024 revenue of $648 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.

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