Dive Brief:
- BJ’s Wholesale Club is building a distribution center in Commercial Point, Ohio, that is expected to open in early 2027, according to a Jan. 28 press release.
- The over 500,000-square-foot facility is the fourth such location within the retailer’s network and will serve as a hub to replenish grocery products and general merchandise.
- BJ’s is also partnering with technology vendor Swisslog to implement automated pallet storage, case-handling equipment and mixed-case pallet building at the facility, per the release.
Dive Insight:
BJ’s is expanding its supply chain facility footprint to keep up with its ballooning store network.
The retailer has opened 30 stores in the last five years, according to the release, including the launch of its 250th location on Jan. 31 in Louisville, Kentucky. The new distribution center will support this ongoing growth, the release said. And, being built on 125 acres, it has the potential to be expanded in the future as well.
“Our business has grown meaningfully over the years, and we continue to invest in our supply chain to better serve members,” said Krystyna Kostka, SVP and chief supply chain officer, in the release.
BJ's promoted Kostka to her current role from SVP of operations in November. In making the announcement, BJ’s said Kostka would be responsible for the company’s distribution and logistics networks, as well as planning, allocation, robotics and automation.
Even before the promotion, Kostka had played an integral role in deploying robotics, automation and emerging technologies across BJ’s stores and distribution centers during her more than 10-year tenure, the company said in a Nov. 12 press release. The new distribution center’s integration of automation technologies will continue that work.
“With the opening of this new distribution center, we’ll have the agility to support our clubs more efficiently than ever – ensuring members have the products they need, when and where they expect them – all at unbeatable value,” Kostka said in the January release.
