For Immediate Release: November 1, 2010 Contact: Eddie Owens, APR, Director of Corporate Communications (office: 806.788.4863; cell: 806.928.0462)
United Supermarkets Opens New Distribution Center
in Dallas-Forth Worth Area
LUBBOCK, Texas (Nov. 1, 2010) – Texas-based grocery retail chain United Supermarkets’ brand new, 200,000-square-foot distribution center in Roanoke, Texas, is now operational and will soon begin shipping products to the company’s easternmost stores.
Named for the industrial park near Fort Worth where it is located, the Alliance Distribution Center will increase United’s operational efficiency with service to 16 stores, bring 74 new jobs to DFW and position the grocer for potential future growth.
The strategic location of United’s second distribution center enables the company to relieve its Lubbock facility of supply chain limitations with a fast-moving operation that supports expansion. Additionally, the Alliance DC will remove an estimated 2.2 million miles of transportation costs and related carbon emissions from the road and environment each year.
“The opening of the new Alliance DC is very exciting because it’s a monumental milestone for our company,” said Chris St. Clair, executive vice president for information and logistics at United Supermarkets. “Our decision to build the facility in North Texas allows for further growth throughout the region and reaffirms our corporate commitment to ensuring that United guests are offered the freshest items as fast as possible.”
The new warehouse will begin shipping grocery and frozen items to its six Market Street stores in the DFW Metroplex, four Abilene stores, three Wichita Falls stores and additional locations in Burkburnett, Graham and Vernon on Nov. 7. Perishable service to the 16 stores will begin in early December.
“The beauty of the new distribution center is that it will deliver operational efficiency immediately,” St. Clair said. “This will be a fast-moving warehouse with a large amount of high velocity items, and we have every confidence that our new team members will keep it running smoothly and on time.”
The facility will employ 17 drivers, 41 selectors, 15 supervisors and clerks, and one technical support team member. Acting as the consolidation point for shipments bound for Lubbock, the Alliance DC will also serve as the origination point for 100 percent of United’s frozen food, 90 percent of its produce and 75 percent of its dry grocery.
Located in Alliance Gateway Park, United’s new facility is nestled with more than 70 other warehouse facilities, including corporate neighbors AT&T, Mitsubishi Motors, Motorola and Ryder North American.
In addition to its two distribution centers, United Supermarkets operates 50 stores throughout Texas under three distinct banners: United, Market Street and Amigos. Recently, the company became the first grocer in Texas to implement the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System, a revolutionary ranking system that provides comprehensive nutritional information in one simple number between one and 100, in all of its stores.
About United Supermarkets Now in its 94th year of operation, United Supermarkets, LLC, is a Texas-based, family-owned grocery chain with stores in 30 markets across north and west Texas. A self-distributing company with its headquarters and distribution center in Lubbock, United currently operates 50 stores under three distinct formats: United Supermarkets, Market Street and Amigos United.