Kroger celebrated its new state-of-the-art distribution center at 2000 Anvil Block Road in Forest Park, Georgia, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.
The Forest Park distribution center enables Kroger to provide full-line distribution services for existing and future stores. Construction of the 1 million-s.f. facility located on 253 acres began in summer 2014 with an investment of $175 million. Perishables and frozen foods are now being shipped to Kroger stores, with dry goods scheduled to begin shipping in summer 2016.
“The city of Forest Park and Clayton County have been instrumental in this project—and continue to assist Kroger with this new facility,” says Jerry Moreton, VP of administration for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “The Fort Gillem property is an ideal location for site development and land space, infrastructure, transportation access, skilled workforce and revenue to support the project.”
Kroger currently operates a 240,000-s.f. East Point distribution center in metro Atlanta for perishables, as well as the Bouldercrest dry-grocery building and freeze facility. Approximately 315,000 cases of product are shipped daily throughout stores in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina from the East Point and Bouldercrest facilities.
The Forest Park facility will improve efficiencies in delivering products to Kroger stores and support local economies in the communities Kroger serves.
“With the growth and expansion of Kroger’s Atlanta Division, the opening of this distribution center is vital to continuing Kroger’s commitment to making the shopping experience enjoyable and convenient for customers,” says Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger’s Atlanta Division.
Guest speakers during Tuesday’s ceremony included Jeff Turner, chairman of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners; David Lockhart, mayor of the city of Forest Park; Jerry Moreton, Kroger’s Atlanta Division’s VP of administration; and Richard O’Connell, CEO of Primus Builders.
Kroger’s Atlanta Division operates more than 185 stores in Georgia, eastern Alabama and South Carolina.
