Ahold Delhaize USA held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new distribution center in Burlington, North Carolina, marking an $860 million investment in supply chain expansion, the Salisbury, North Carolina-based retailer announced Feb. 16.
The facility will add more than one million square feet of fresh and frozen distribution capacity to support Food Lion and other grocery brands while creating more than 500 jobs. Construction is underway with operations anticipated to begin in 2029.
Strategic investment
The investment represents a major milestone in Ahold Delhaize USA’s Growing Together strategy to modernize its supply chain and drive long-term growth for U.S. brands. The Burlington facility will be the largest in the company’s network.
“This groundbreaking marks another exciting step forward in strengthening our supply chain network and ensuring we can serve our customers with the freshest products every day,” said JJ Fleeman, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA.
“We’re proud to invest in North Carolina – one of our home states for nearly 70 years – and to continue building on our commitment to serving local customers and communities by providing access to nutritious and affordable options.”
Facility features
The Burlington facility will incorporate modern automation and sustainability features to enhance operational efficiency and minimize environmental impact. The Tippmann Group, specializing in construction of temperature-controlled food plant and cold storage warehouse facilities, will lead construction. WITRON will provide automated technology and integrated logistics solutions.
“At ADUSA Distribution and ADUSA Transportation, we are focused on delivering best-in-class service to the grocery brands we support,” said Sanja Krajnovic, chief supply chain officer and EVP of ADUSA Distribution and ADUSA Transportation.
“The Burlington distribution center will be our largest facility in the network, enabling us to expand our capacity, implement new technology and deploy automation capabilities as we modernize our supply chain. We look forward to welcoming new associates to our team who are passionate about serving the millions of customers who rely on our brands every week.”
Government support
Local and state officials joined Ahold Delhaize USA leaders at the groundbreaking event.
“Today’s groundbreaking underscores North Carolina’s continued leadership in attracting transformative investments that create hundreds of good-paying jobs, strengthen supply chains and support long-term economic growth,” said Gov. Josh Stein. “Projects like this reinforce our state’s reputation for our excellent workforce and as a premier destination for innovation, logistics and opportunity.”
Guilford County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston shared, “Today is not just about breaking ground. It is about setting a direction. Guilford County is committed to building an economy that is resilient, inclusive and prepared for what comes next. This investment reflects our belief that when we plan boldly and partner intentionally, we create opportunity not just for today’s workforce, but for future generations who will call this community home.”
Network expansion
The Burlington site will be the fourth Ahold Delhaize USA distribution center in North Carolina, joining existing facilities in Salisbury, Butner and Dunn. Together, these sites help support one of the largest grocery supply chain networks on the East Coast, operating more than 8,000 transportation assets and logging more than 125 million miles annually.
Ahold Delhaize USA is a division of international food retailer Ahold Delhaize and includes five omnichannel grocery brands: Food Lion, The Giant Company, Giant Food, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. The companies comprise the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast and the fourth largest in the nation, serving 26 million omnichannel customers each week.
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