Walmart employees, local elected officials and community members celebrated the grand opening of a new 730,000-square-foot perishable distribution center July 16 in Lancaster, Texas.
The new facility receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers and frozen goods for delivery to nearby Walmart stores. The perishable distribution center is Walmart’s second Lancaster-based facility, following the next generation fulfillment center that opened in 2023.
“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.”
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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 distribution center, getting items onto store shelves faster than before. Employees work with high-tech systems to create a pallet with fragile merchandise, such as eggs and yogurt toward the top, which reduces the number of boxes an employee 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.”
Continued community investment
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 has more than 176,000 employees 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.
