In Walmart’s quest for faster online e-commerce delivery, the retailer plans to build a $300 million fulfillment center in Kings Mountain, N.C. Walmart said the 1.2 million-square-foot facility will open in 2027 and create more than 300 jobs.
“As our e-commerce business continues to grow, this new fulfillment center will play a critical role in helping us serve customers faster,” said Karisa Sprague, senior vice president, supply chain, Walmart U.S. “We’re excited to join the Kings Mountain community and proud to create long-term career opportunities where associates can grow and build their future with Walmart.”
The retailer said the new e-commerce fulfillment center will allow for next-day shipping of large items such as patio furniture and lawnmowers, a process that now can take three days. The investment is part of the retailer’s push for faster delivery and increased efficiencies in its massive logistics network.
The new e-commerce fulfillment center announcement comes on the heels of at least five high-speed fulfillment centers the retailer has opened since June 2022 to facilitate faster deliveries by using automation, drones and other technologies.
At the recent Up.Summit held in Bentonville, Walmart announced plans to expand its drone delivery business with Wing to Bentonville after recently getting clearance to do so from city and state officials. The local Wing drone operation will be based at Walmart Store 100 on Walton Boulevard across from the former Walmart Home Office.
In January, Walmart announced completion of 100,000 drone deliveries, but by August, that had increased to 300,000, according to Walmart board member Steuart Walton.
“We are starting to hit the J curve there, and we are really excited about drone delivery as a big component of solving last-mile delivery to customers for Walmart. It’s just a huge part of their business and the long-term strategy to get customers things as quickly as they can – in less than an hour now from a lot of stores. Drone should be able to help support that even more.” Walton said in an interview with CNBC at the Up. Summit.
Walmart announced in June plans to expand its partnership with Wing in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. Walmart was already conducting drone deliveries in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa.
Wing is powered by Google’s partner company, Alphabet, and operates within Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, flying its drones up to a six-mile range from the store.