The Kraft Heinz Company has invested $400 million to build a new automated consumer packaged goods distribution centre in DeKalb, Illinois, US.
The company said that the 775,000-square-foot facility, which will feature national railway access, will be one of the largest centres in North America and will help Kraft Heinz to deliver its products more efficiently to retail and foodservice customers.
The new site design will include a “24/7 automated storage and retrieval system with the ability to drive twice the volume for Kraft Heinz customers”. As a result, it will enable the distribution of over 60% of the company’s foodservice business and approximately 30% of all dry goods.
Kraft Heinz also expects the facility to contribute to its broader environmental, social and governance goals, with plans to implement sustainable technology and solutions to reduce the waste produced at the facility.
Carlos Abrams-Rivera, EVP and president of North America at Kraft Heinz, said: “As we continue on our journey to lead the future of food, our talented North America teams and collaborative external partners are innovating at a rapid pace to expand our supply chain capabilities. The DeKalb distribution centre is expected to play a critical role in our larger distribution strategy, moving more than 60% of Kraft Heinz dry goods in North America through our automated facilities.”
Erin Mitchell, VP of logistics and head of network restructuring at Kraft Heinz, added: “We’re driving end-to-end transformation across our entire supply chain, investing in automated technology and digitised solutions to increase the agility of our logistics operations. The construction of our new DeKalb distribution centre is the latest example of this transformation in action. We have designed it to help ensure the delivery of our delicious, innovative and iconic products at the right time for our customers and consumers for years to come.”
The facility is expected to bring over 150 jobs to the region.
