Dive Brief:
- Walmart is investing more than $330 million to modernize its regional distribution center in Opelousas, Louisiana, according to a Jan. 15 press release from Louisiana Economic Development.
- The retailer intends to equip the distribution center with robotics and automation, which will double the facility’s shipping capacity once complete, per the press release.
- The multiyear project is set to begin this year and will occur in phases, per the press release.
Dive Insight:
The modernization project is part of Walmart’s push to upgrade all 42 of its regional distribution centers, according to the press release.
Walmart aims to retain its workforce and transition roles toward higher-skilled positions in automation, advanced technology and robotics, according to the press release. Currently, the retailer has more than 37,400 employees in Louisiana, more than 1,900 of whom work in its distribution centers.
“This will play a strategic role in supporting our goal of modernizing our vast supply chain network by increasing the speed, efficiency, and safety at which products are distributed across our regional distribution centers,” a spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive in an email.
As of November 2025, more than 60% of Walmart’s U.S. stores received some freight from automated distribution centers, which has lowered shipping costs.
The retailer has also been pushing automation elsewhere in its supply chain, including its “next generation” fulfillment centers, where products are shipped to customers.
Walmart has outlined several ways it leverages automation throughout its supply chain over the last few years. For instance, Walmart implemented autonomous forklifts from Fox Robotics and Wiliot inventory-tracking sensors.
