BJ's Opens New DC to Support Growth

NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. last week held the grand opening of a 618,000-square-foot distribution center in Uxbridge, Mass. The new facility, which replaced a smaller distribution center in Franklin, Mass., is designed to support the company's supply chain model and plans for expansion in the East.

"The enhancements implemented at this facility allow us to improve efficiencies and strengthen our position as one of the lowest cost operators in the retail industry," noted BJ's president and c.e.o. Mike Wedge. "Through superior logistics capabilities, we're able to reduce processing time and accelerate the flow of merchandise to the clubs, which keeps operation expenses down and products in stock for our members."
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The facility, which will service 65 clubs in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and Ohio, has the capacity to support up to 86 clubs as the company expands.

It further has the capacity of accepting and distributing over 500 truckloads of product daily at its 239 loading dock doors and 560 trailer parking spaces. The center features modern digital systems for warehouse management, security, and payroll, in addition to radio-frequency-controlled processes and wireless communication.

The cross-dock facility employs over 240 new and existing team members, as BJ's calls employees. Over 400 people attended the Sept. 15 opening, among them BJ's team members, company executives, business partners, state and local representatives, and local residents.

The Uxbridge DC is one of three facilities that serve BJ's 166 clubs across the Eastern United States; the other are a 480,000-square-foot facility in Jacksonville, Fla. and a 630,000-square-foot facility in Burlington, N.J.

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. operates 166 clubs and 90 gas stations in 16 states.