Walmart Opens First Florida e-Commerce Fulfillment Center in Polk County

July 25, 2017 • News, Success Stories

Florida Governor Rick Scott, Walmart officials, Polk community leaders and Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) staff attended the grand opening of Walmart’s new e-commerce fulfillment center in Davenport, FL, a massive, state-of-the-art facility that is estimated to bring more than 1,500 jobs to Polk County. The new facility will house millions of items dedicated to fulfilling online orders and will enable faster shipping directly to customers or to stores for free pickup. It is the latest addition to the next-generation fulfillment network Walmart is building to support its rapidly growing e-commerce business.

Governor Scott said, “I was proud to celebrate the grand opening of Walmart’s new e-commerce fulfillment center which is helping to create 1,500 jobs for Florida families. Walmart could have chosen to open this new fulfillment center in any location, yet they know that Polk County, Florida is the best place for them to grow their business and create new jobs.

“This campus is just the latest example of Walmart’s commitment to offering customers fast shipping on items they need every day,” said Nate Faust, senior vice president, Walmart U.S. eCommerce Supply Chain. “We’re excited not only about the economic impact our facility has had, and will continue to have, in the community, but also how it will help us empower our customers to shop when and how they want.”

The 50-acre campus, located near the intersection of I-4 and Highway 27 in Polk County, features two buildings spanning a total of more than 2.2 million sq. ft. The campus employs more than 550 recently hired associates and there are plans to hire at least 1,000 more associates over the next year. These associates would join the more than 107,000 in the state currently working at Walmart’s stores, clubs and distribution centers.

The new facility is part of a vast network — Walmart distribution centers, existing e-commerce facilities, 4,500 Walmart stores and a world-class transportation fleet — that ships packages fast and efficiently, while offering customers more choices for how they want to receive their online orders.

“We’re excited to welcome Walmart’s new state-of-the-art fulfillment center campus to Polk County,” said Melony Bell, Polk County Commission Chair. “Walmart has made a significant investment in our community through the more than 1,500 job opportunities created and its commitment to give back to so many deserving organizations. Walmart has long been a major employer in our community, and we’re grateful for its commitment to continued growth here.”

“I’m proud of the work we’re doing to keep pace with the wants and needs of our customers,” said Stephen “Toby” Gray, general manager of the Polk County fulfillment center campus and 23-year associate at Walmart. “Our team is the driving force behind this state-of-the-art facility, and our associates have worked hard to get us to where we are today. We’re also incredibly appreciative of the warm welcome and strong support we have received from the local community.”

By the Numbers:

The new 50-acre Walmart eCommerce Fulfillment Center Campus is the sixth in the Walmart network and the first in Florida.

Unique facts and features include: