REI breaks ground on Pennsylvania DC

REI breaks ground on Pennsylvania DC    Recreational Equipment Inc., a national retail co-op selling outdoor gear and apparel, said Thursday it has broken ground on a new 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Bedford, Pa.
   REI expects the Bedford distribution center to improve delivery time for East Coast e-commerce customers and allow REI to replenish stock more quickly and efficiently in eastern region stores. More frequent product replenishment will also speed delivery times for REI’s store pickup service, which allows customers to order online and pick up their purchases at the retail store of their choosing without incurring shipping charges, the company said.
   Initial warehousing and shipping operations will begin in the fall of 2007, with full distribution operation slated for January 2008. Hiring will begin in August 2007 to ramp up to 250 employees, with peak employment at nearly 350.
   REI has 83 stores, with 25 located east of the Mississippi River.