Walmart's new high-tech perishable distribution center in Lancaster [Photo: Business Wire]
Retail giant Walmart has opened a new 730,000-square-foot perishable distribution center (PDC) in Lancaster where fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers, and frozen goods will be delivered and processed for distribution to nearby Walmart stores.
The new facility 15 miles south of Dallas is Walmart’s second Lancaster-based facility, following the 1.5-million-SF next-generation fulfillment center that opened in 2023. Located at 940 East Pleasant Run Road, the new PDC is home to more than 500 full-time Walmart employees.
“South Dallas County is now home to two of Walmart’s newest state-of-the-art facilities,” Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said in a statement. “Walmart’s investment confirms that Dallas County and the Dallas-Fort Worth region are open for business.”
Streamlining the perishables’ supply chain
Walmart said that perishable distribution centers are a strategic part of its supply chain transformation, keeping its more than 4,600 stores stocked with fresh and frozen merchandise. It said that the Lancaster facility is its second of five new high-tech perishable distribution centers.
“State-of-the-art” technology enables Walmart to process more than double the volume of a traditional distribution center, the company said, getting items onto store shelves faster than ever before.
Employees work with high-tech systems to create “the perfect pallet” with fragile merchandise, such as eggs and yogurt toward the top, reducing 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, the company said.
That maximizes space on trucks, reduces transportation costs, and creates savings that can be passed on to customers.
Creating jobs and supporting the community
“This is a game-changer for our city, blending our skilled workforce with cutting-edge technology to deliver fresh, high-quality food,” Lancaster Mayor Clyde C. Hairston said a statement. “Beyond innovation, this center will create sustainable jobs for our community and enhance access to nutritious food.”
The center is an economic opportunity for the city, too.
“Walmart is paving the way for good jobs and great careers in the region with the Lancaster perishable distribution center,” Tim Cooper, SVP of Grocery Network Operations for Walmart U.S., said in a statement. “This is more than an investment, it’s a commitment to our associates, our community, and our future.”
Walmart said it’s hiring for a variety of tech-focused positions, including automation equipment operator.
“We’re proud to create new opportunities for our associates, equipping them with the skills to manage the advanced robotics technology transforming our business,” Ervin Goad, general manager of the new facility, said in a statement. “Associates at the Lancaster facility will play a pivotal role in making sure our customers have the items they want, when they want them.”
During the recent grand opening ceremony, Walmart donated $5,000 to ConqHer, along with $2,500 to both the Lancaster Police and Fire Departments. The donations reflect Walmart’s commitment to the community, the company said. 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 said it serves Texas customers at 590 retail units and online through Walmart.com. The company employs more than 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.
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TAGS:
- eggs
- Ervin Goad
- fresh produce
- frozen foods
- jobs
- John Wiley Price
- Lancaster
- perishable distribution center
- retailer
- walmart
- warehouse
