Farmers Weekly Review

On April 30, Walmart hosted the grand opening of its newest high-tech consolidation center in Minooka.

The new 492,000 square-foot facility at 201 S. McLinden Road will bring nearly 700 additional jobs to the area, according to a press release from the company. Once implemented, the facility’s automated technology can enable three times more volume to flow throughout the center and help Walmart deliver the right product to the right store, so customers can find the products they need.

This building will be the third of its kind in Walmart’s supply chain. The first, located 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 in the release.

“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 a specialized role in moving products quickly on their journey to store shelves, and ultimately, the customer. Each has the ability to receive general merchandise items from suppliers in smaller freight loads, known in the industry as less than a truckload (LTL) and consolidate them into larger freight loads, known as full truckloads (TL).

Then the product is shipped to one of Walmart’s 42 regional distribution centers where it is sorted for distribution to stores. The technology in the facility provides benefits for both customers and suppliers. It significantly enhances supply chain efficiency, enabling Walmart to generate savings that can be directly passed onto customers through lower prices.

For suppliers, it streamlines the process of purchase order fulfillment, reduces lead times and unlocks faster delivery to customers.

Providing Career Opportunities

Once staffed, Walmart will have 700 associates at the Minooka consolidation center. Available roles range from Freight Handler to Quality Assurance Manager.

“It’s an exciting time to join our third high- tech consolidation center in Minooka,” said James White, General Manager, in the release. “The new facility provides a new slate of jobs in the region, in addition to providing training and development opportunities that help associates grow their careers for years to come.”

Full-time positions qualify for Walmart’s total rewards and benefits plans, including medical, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, an associate stock purchase plan and access to company-paid college degrees and skills certificates through Walmart’s Live Better U. Candidates can search for open positions and complete applications online at careers.walmart.com.

Continued Investment in Illinois Community

During the grand opening ceremony, Walmart celebrated its commitment to the community by presenting three $4,000 grants to We Are Called to Care NFP, Illinois Valley Industries Inc. and Young Einsteins Learning Academy PTO.

Last year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation donated more than $1.7 billion in donations of products and grants to a variety of local causes and organizations.”

Walmart’s Growing Modern Supply Chain Network

Walmart’s investment in high-tech consolidation centers is part of the retailer’s 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.