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Grocer Wegmans to invest in supply chain upgrades

Planning underway for new cold storage facility, warehouse consolidation

Eric Kulisch
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Wegmans is making investments to upgrade its cold-storage facilities for perishables and other food products. (Photo: Wegmans)

Regional supermarket chain Wegmans plans to build a modern refrigerated distribution center in its hometown of Rochester, New York, to support perishable operations and consolidate storage of general merchandise at its Pottsville, Pennsylvania, warehouse.

The investments are part of an effort to strengthen supply chain operations, reduce reliance on third-party providers, enhance service to stores and expand capacity for future growth, the company said in a news release last week.

The new temperature-controlled warehouse, which will house fresh produce, meat and seafood, deli and restaurant food, is still in the planning stage. Construction and opening timelines have not been determined, Wegmans said.

The grocery store will also relocate its return center from its current location in Rochester to a new, upgraded building in the city. 

Wegmans said the current general merchandise distribution center is the company’s oldest leased distribution facility and doesn’t meet future requirements. Consolidation of goods in Pottsville is expected to occur in spring 2027.

The changes will not result in any layoffs and Wegmans will work with affected employees during the transition, it sai.

“Modernizing our network is essential to continuing to build a safe, more efficient, and more resilient supply chain,” said Brian Olney, senior vice president of supply chain & food safety. “These investments will give our people the tools and facilities they need to better serve our stores today while creating the capacity to support Wegmans’ continued growth for years to come.” 

Why It Matters: Wegmans is a growing supermarket chain on the East Coast and better logistics facilities will allow it to serve customers better and expand its footprint.

Wegmans operates 114 stores along the East coast.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.

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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Parcel and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was runner up for News Journalist and Supply Chain Journalist of the Year in the Seahorse Freight Association's 2024 journalism award competition. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist. He won the group's Environmental Journalist of the Year award in 2014 and was the 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com