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Walmart Automates DC

Specialty Food Association

Walmart has completed renovations made to its regional distribution center in Palestine, Texas, adding automation capabilities to the location.

This investment in the 1.2 million-square-foot facility is part of a broader initiative that the retailer announced last year to renovate all 42 regional distribution centers with automated technology. The company hopes the technology will continue modernizing Walmart’s supply chain network aiming to increase the speed, efficiency, and safety of products distributed.

“Walmart’s Palestine distribution center has been a pillar in the community for the last 42 years, and we’re excited to transform our building into an industry-leading, high-tech distribution center,” said Marty Denney, general manager of regional distribution center #6036 at Walmart U.S, in a statement. “This isn’t just an investment in our facility, but also our associates, our community, and our future. I couldn't be more proud to be at the forefront of Walmart’s supply chain transformation.”

Walmart’s supply chain is undergoing a digital transformation to ensure customers can get the items they want, when, and how they want them. Regional distribution centers are a strategic part of the company’s supply chain network to keep over 4,700 stores stocked. The technology investment uses a combination of AI-powered software systems, robotics, and automation to sort, store, retrieve, and pack merchandise onto pallets which are then shipped to stores.

“Adding game-changing automation and AI-powered software systems to this facility will revolutionize an already impressive operation, changing the way we distribute products to stores, and we’re just getting started,” said Mike Gray, SVP of supply chain operations at Walmart, in a statement.

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