Chick-fil-A will open a new $16 million distribution center in Maryland Heights, Missouri, next year as it looks to exert greater control over its supply chain.
The investment will create more than 60 new jobs and add capacity to serve more than 40 Chick-fil-A restaurants across the St. Louis area, according to a recent statement from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
The 100,000-square-foot distribution center will not only ensure that restaurants have access to food and products, but also to delivery service technology, according to the statement.
“Our newest investment in the St. Louis area provides us the opportunity to grow our business and uniquely serve our franchise operators, licensees, and their teams across the region,” Josh Grote, executive director of Chick-fil-A Supply, said in the statement.
The Maryland Heights facility marks Chick-fil-A’s fourth distribution center in the country as the Atlanta-based company works toward greater flexibility within its supply chain. The company launched its first center in 2019 in Cartersville, Georgia.
In November, the restaurant chain also announced plans to establish an $80 million distribution center in Lexington County, South Carolina, with operations set to start in 2024, according to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
The new facility is just one of the many operational innovations that the company has implemented to meet consumer needs. Earlier this year, two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Austin, Texas, began testing self-driving delivery vehicles in partnership with Refraction AI.
