Walmart is planning a new 1.8 million-plus-sq.-ft. fulfillment center in Shippensburg, Pa., which is slated to open this spring and create up to 600 permanent, full-time jobs.
The company’s fulfillment centers are focused on storing millions of items that are picked, packed and shipped directly to customers as soon as the next day—in contrast to distribution centers, which are focused on receiving, storing, and distributing product to Walmart stores, reports Chain Store Age.
The facility is part of a broader initiative to add more capacity into Walmart’s supply chain as the retailer prepares for growth. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, Walmart U.S. e-commerce cited 70% growth during a two-year period, reports CSA. According to Walmart, six times the number of customers placed delivery orders in the fourth quarter of 2021 as did pre-pandemic.
“We are proud to open a new state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Shippensburg, which will be instrumental in providing our customers with increased access and faster shipping on millions of every-day low priced items,” said Steve Miller, senior VP supply chain operations, Walmart U.S. “In addition to faster shipping, our investment in Shippensburg will bring a positive impact to the community by bringing even more employment opportunities to a growing local economy.”
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to invest in our associates through job promotion and growth while providing new career opportunities to job-seekers in the Southern Pennsylvania region,” said Karisa Sprague, senior VP, U.S. supply chain people. “In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, Walmart also offers industry leading training and development opportunities, such as a college degree 100% paid for by Walmart’s Live Better U. There’s never been a better time to be a Walmart supply chain associate.”
Walmart operates seven distribution centers, 160 retail stores, and employs more than 60,000 associates in the state of Pennsylvania. Worldwide, the company operates approximately 10,500 stores and warehouse club locations under 46 banners in 24 countries, as well as e-commerce websites.