Walmart Opens High-Tech Consolidation Center

Walmart is expanding the role of consolidation centers within its supply chain with the opening of a new 492,000-square foot facility in Minooka, Ill.

The high-tech center is equipped with automated technology that can enable three times more volume to flow throughout the center and help the retailer deliver the right products to the right store, Walmart officials said.

The Illinois consolidation center is the third of its kind in Walmart’s supply chain. The first in Colton, Calif., opened in 2019.

“We’ve made continued investments in our people, facilities and technology to ensure we have the right product, in the right place, at the right time,” said Mike Gray, senior vice president of Ambient Operations at Walmart. “As part of these investments, the Minooka facility will provide even more opportunities for small to medium sized suppliers in the region who do not ship nationwide, the ability to provide product to all 4,700 Walmart stores.”

Consolidation centers have the ability to receive general merchandise items from suppliers in smaller freight loads and consolidate them into larger freight loads. Those consolidated loads are shipped to one of Walmart’s 42 regional distribution centers where the items are sorted for distribution to stores. 

The Minooka facility will have 700 employees when fully staffed.

Walmart officials said the retailer’s investment in high-tech consolidation centers is part of a broader initiative to modernize its vast supply chain network. By deploying data, software, and advanced technology, Walmart is accelerating its transformation both digitally and physically, enabling a more flexible and connected omnichannel fulfillment network. 

As part of this transformation, the retailer is building and transforming facilities with state-of-the-art automation and robotics, while evolving strenuous, manual jobs into more rewarding roles that provide opportunities to learn new skills in technology.