Walmart’s new perishable distribution center in Lancaster could service as many as 175 stores across North Texas when running at full capacity as the retail giant looks to grow in the region amid increasing competition in the supermarket industry.
The retail giant, which is based in Bentonville, Ark., has officially opened the 730,000-square-foot component of a new facility in southern Dallas County that receives, processes and ships items such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and others to Walmart stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The launch of the fresh facility follows that of its adjacent freezer facility, which currently serves about 135 Walmart stores.
Between the two Lancaster facilities at 940 E. Pleasant Run Road, Walmart employs more than 500 workers.
North Texas is a key market for Walmart for both its Walmart-branded stores and Sam’s Club warehouse club stores.
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The completion of the new Lancaster site frees up capacity to meet growth within the market, according to Ervin Goad, general manager of the facility.
The distribution will solely serve Walmart locations, but that means it will allow other hubs to serve the growing Sam’s Club retail stores across the region.
“There’s a few strategic advantages to the site being in Lancaster,” Goad said. “It’s the proximity to so many of our big stores in D-FW, and we’re part of the Inland Port. There’s a wealth of talent here with the skilled workforce, as well.”
The highly automated center marks Walmart’s first where its own employees will operate the equipment and perform the maintenance on it. That means the Lancaster operation and its employees are set to help stabilize grocery automation and how it factors into the company’s future facilities.
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Sam Garcia, an employee in the control room for the fresh facility and a Dallas native, plays a role in overseeing front-to-end palette creation for local stores.
Between current inventory and online orders, Walmart prepares “perfect palettes” for individual stores with the merchandise it holds at the fresh facility, packing and stacking items to replenish stock. Sensors detect if there are abnormalities with the height and weight of items and will alert staff members throughout the process.
From the control room, Garcia can see the assembly from its origin at its plastic-wrapped conclusion and move to one of 16 dock bays for delivery to its home at a store in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Garcia enjoys the work as she learns new things with Walmart continuing to upgrade the systems and bring in new reports.
“It’s the same goal, but it’s never the same day,” said Garcia.
Walmart is still working to fill roles like automation equipment operator, unloaders and receivers, maintenance technicians and support roles.