Looking to expand fresh food grocery business (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - New York, 10 Jul - Walmart is building and developing five new automated distribution centres for fresh food across the US as it presses ahead with efforts to upgrade its online grocery business.

In a statement, Dave Guggina - executive vice president, supply vhain operations, Walmart US - said the retailer's first high-tech distribution centre in Shafter, California has been operational since 2021.

"The second, located in Lancaster, Texas, is ramping operations and will be followed by Wellford, South Carolina; Belvidere, Illinois; and Pilesgrove, New Jersey.

Collectively, these facilities bring around 2,000 new jobs into these communities and our supply chain network," he said.

Walmart, the US's biggest grocer, is streamlining its supply chain to meet growing customer demand for fresh foods.

It also said it was expanding four traditional perishable distribution centres by adding over 500,000 square feet of automation per site to increase capacity for fresh product.

"We will expand facilities in Mankato, Minnesota; Mebane, North Carolina; Garrett, Indiana; and Shelbyville, Tennessee," it said.

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(RADIOCOR) 10-07-24 14:53:34 (0391) 5 NNNN