Home-improvement retailer Home Depot is planning to open three distribution centers in Georgia over the next 18 months. The new distribution centers will attempt to support the growing demand for flexible delivery and pick-up options for both professional and DIY customers.
"Retail has changed more in the past four years than in our company's 40-year history. Customers expect to shop whenever, wherever, and however they want," Stephanie Smith, senior vice president of supply chain development and delivery at Home Depot, said in a news release. "We're investing to meet the changing delivery needs of our DIY and Pro customers, whether they're at home, at their job sites, or picking up in store."
In 2017, Home Depot announced a $1.2 billion investment to expand its distribution network with approximately 150 new supply chain facilities nationwide. As part of the investment, the retailer hoped to expand its existing same-day and next-day delivery options to 90% of the U.S. population. In January 2020, the company launched a flatbed distribution center in Dallas, Texas. As part of the Dallas flatbed center's launch, the company pledged to build 40 flatbed distribution centers in the 40 largest metro markets in the United States.
The largest of the three planned Atlanta-area facilities is a 657,600 square-foot distribution center in Locust Grove that will focus on fast replenishment to stores in the southeast. The company is also planning to open a flatbed delivery center in Stonecrest in 2021 that will offer same-day and next-day delivery of bulk and oversized orders. Home Depot said such delivery services further its capabilities to serve pro customers by delivering large, oversized orders and materials directly to pro's job sites. Home Depot's definition of pro includes remodelers and builders, as well as maintenance, repair, and operating supply workers.
Additionally, Home Depot has plans to open an order fulfillment operation in East Point, Ga., in late 2021. The facility will offer same-day and next-day delivery of the most popular products primarily ordered by institutional business customers for their maintenance, repair, and operations needs.
