Lancaster welcomed a new 730,000-square-foot Walmart perishable distribution center on Tuesday.
The facility’s grand opening was attended by local elected officials, community members, and Walmart associates, according to a press release.
“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.”
Walmart’s perishable distribution centers keep its stores stocked with fresh and frozen merchandise.
Located 15 miles south of Dallas, the new facility receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers, and frozen goods for delivery to nearby Walmart stores. Lancaster is also home to a next-generation fulfillment center that opened in 2023, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“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.”
The state-of-the-art facility enables the retailer to process products efficiently, resulting in cost savings for consumers.
“Associates work with high-tech systems to create the perfect pallet with fragile merchandise, such as eggs and yogurt toward the top, which drastically reduces the number of boxes an associate 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,” according to the press release.
Located at 940 East Pleasant Run Rd., the facility employs more than 500 full-time Walmart associates.
“Walmart is paving the way for good jobs and great careers in the region with the Lancaster perishable distribution center,” said Tim Cooper, senior vice president of Grocery Network Operations for Walmart U.S. “This is more than an investment, it’s a commitment to our associates, our community, and our future.”
The company celebrated the grand opening by donating $5,000 to ConqHer and $2,500 to both the Lancaster Police and Fire Departments. In fiscal year 2024, the Walmart Foundation contributed over $159 million to nonprofit organizations throughout Texas.
Walmart employs over 176,000 associates in Texas.