Dive Brief:
- Walmart opened a 725,000-square-foot perishable distribution center in Wellford, South Carolina, the retailer announced last week.
- The facility receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, meat and frozen goods for distribution to 180 Walmart stores. More than 600 full-time employees work at the location, and Walmart is hiring for automation equipment operators and other roles.
- “The opening of our new high-tech perishable distribution center, marks a major step forward in how we get fresher products to customers faster — whether that’s in-store, delivered to their home, or even restocking their refrigerator,” said Rob Montgomery, EVP of supply chain for Walmart U.S., in the announcement.
Dive Insight:
The Wellford facility is the third of five new perishable distribution centers Walmart is opening nationwide as the retail giant continues to beef up its grocery supply chain.
Facilities in Shafter, California, and Lancaster, Texas, are also up and running, with locations in Belvidere, Illinois, and Pilesgrove, New Jersey, slated to follow. Walmart said last year it is adding over half a million square feet per site to four of its traditional perishable distribution centers as well.
The Wellford location and other new perishables-focused facilities can process over double the volume of a traditional distribution center by tapping into automation and artificial intelligence, according to Walmart.
Processing begins when cases from farmers and suppliers arrive at the facility and are stored in an automated storage system. High-tech systems then build store-specific pallets from those cases to ensure eggs and other fragile items are placed near the top to limit damage. Pallets are then wrapped and loaded onto a truck for shipping.
"AI tracks every pallet to ensure accuracy and freshness," last week’s announcement said. "This technology also makes unloading at stores faster and easier, allowing store associates to spend more time helping customers."
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