Walmart has selected Spartanburg County, South Carolina, as the site of its new, high-tech distribution center for fresh and frozen groceries, set to open in 2024.
The 720,000-plus square-foot facility will create more than 400 full-time regional jobs and will rely on the combination of Walmart associates, automation technology, robotics and machine learning to process grocery perishables – such as produce, eggs, dairy, flowers and frozen goods – and deliver them to nearby stores.
The high-tech facility marks Walmart’s largest grocery distribution center to date and will move two times more product than a traditional grocery DC in addition to presenting new technology-focused job opportunities in the region.
“Walmart’s high-tech grocery distribution center will include game-changing innovations that are radically disrupting the supply chain, getting products onto shelves for our customers even faster, while saving time for our associates,” said David Guggina, SVP of automation and innovation at Walmart U.S. “We’re proud to be opening Walmart’s largest automated grocery distribution center in Spartanburg County and look forward to bringing new STEM job opportunities to the region.”
The high-tech distribution center is part of a larger investment the retailer announced earlier this year to double down on the use of automation technology in its supply chain. The retailer announced its first automated grocery distribution center in 2018 and has since added new innovative solutions that reduce handling cost and improve service to stores and customers.
This news comes just months after the retailer announced its plans to add automation in more than half of its regional distribution centers and market fulfillment centers in select stores. The retailer also has made investments in drones and autonomous vehicles to support last mile deliveries.
“We’re thrilled to bring our high-tech grocery distribution center to the thriving logistics hub of Spartanburg County,” said Tim Cooper, SVP of supply chain operations at Walmart U.S. “The new distribution center will be critical to ensuring our stores are stocked with the freshest grocery items to provide convenience and quality at everyday low prices to customers and communities in the state of South Carolina.”
“Walmart has proven to be an exemplary partner, committed to the success of South Carolina, and today’s announcement further solidifies that fact. This $450 million investment and the more than 400 jobs created will boost South Carolina’s already rapidly growing economy and create even more opportunity for our people,” said Gov. Henry McMaster.
Walmart operates four distribution centers, 122 retail stores and employs 34,136 associates in the state of South Carolina. In FYE 21, stores, clubs and the Walmart Foundation gave $15.3 million in cash and in-kind donations to local South Carolina organizations.
“Along with strengthening Spartanburg’s robust logistics sector, this significant investment by Walmart continues a pattern of Spartanburg being increasingly connected to the larger, nationwide economy. We’re excited to welcome yet another project with global connections to our county,” said David Britt, Spartanburg County councilman and chairman of the Economic Development Committee.
Additional employment information will be shared closer to the distribution center’s opening date. To learn more about careers at Walmart visit: careers.walmart.com.
