Walmart to Open Five High-Tech DCs

Walmart is building five high-tech distribution centers for perishable foods across the U.S., said Dave Guggina, Walmart’s EVP of supply chain operations, in a blog post, today.

“As customers change the way they shop, we’re taking steps to build even more trust with them, ensuring the things they want–and need–are on shelves faster than ever before,” wrote Guggina. “To do that, we've been investing in data, increasingly intelligent software, and automation–all to transform our business and create a more connected supply chain.”

The latest constructions will come to California, Texas, South Carolina, Illinois, and New Jersey, creating roughly 2,000 new jobs. They are part of a grocery transformation strategy that includes expanding and upgrading existing facilities.

As part of this effort, distribution centers in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Tennessee, will obtain over 500,000 additional square feet of automation per site to increase capacity for fresh products, according to the post.

The automation technology allows for greater speed and capacity at these centers and helps increase the efficiency of the retailer’s supply chain. Walmart noted that the high-tech facilities will process over twice the volume of its traditional perishable distribution centers. Blog Post