Wal-Mart is planning a food distribution center in Barstow, Calif. Construction of the facility is set to begin in late 2006, with service to stores to start in 2008. The facility will be served by third-party carriers and by Wal-Mart’s own truck fleet, which recently enrolled in the SmartWay Transport Partnership program.
SmartWay is a voluntary environmental initiative that focuses on U.S. energy efficiency and energy security, while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Rollin Ford, executive vice president of logistics for Wal-Mart, said with the implementation of idle-reduction technology, Wal-Mart in California is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions dramatically.
“The facility we are planning for Barstow will feature state-of-the-art technology and bring added capacity, which will allow us to better serve our expanding California Supercenter presence,” says Ford. Currently, Wal-Mart operates seven supercenters, 150 discount stores and 34 Sam’s Club locations in California.
