H-E-B to add frozen distribution to warehouse in Temple, Texas

H-E-B plans to expand its distribution center in Temple, Texas, by adding an automated frozen distribution line.

The project will enlarge the 1.05 million-square-foot Temple DC by 325,000 square feet and bring more than 100 jobs to the local economy, San Antonio-based H-E-B said yesterday. Pending final negotiations with the city of Temple and the Temple Economic Development Corp. (EDC), construction is slated to start by the end of 2022, and the project is expected to be completed in 2024.

“As H-E-B grows into new markets across Texas, expansion of our Temple facilities supports our commitment to be the best retailer in Texas,” Chad Madison, group vice president of H-E-B warehousing, said in a statement.

Just north of Austin, Temple sits roughly in the middle of a triangle stretching to Dallas-Forth Worth in the north, San Antonio in the southwest and Houston in the southeast. H-E-B said the Temple warehouse currently serves more than 100 H-E-B retail stores across the region. Opened initially as a 450,000-square-foot facility in 2010, the Temple DC last year completed an expansion from 800,000 square feet to over 1 million square feet.

“It is our privilege to continue to work with H-E-B as they grow their presence in Temple, Texas,” Temple EDC President and CEO Adrian Cannady stated. “H-E-B has seen many cycles of growth and expansion throughout their time in Temple, and we are proud of the opportunities they continue to bring to our region. This expansion project, paired with Temple’s strategic location and immediate access to I-35, will work to strengthen H-E-B's operations in Texas.”

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In recent years, H-E-B has been expanding its store base all across the region, including into West Texas and South Austin as well as in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. The company also replaced its DC along Rittiman Road in San Antonio with a 1.6-million-square-foot facility dubbed the San Antonio Super Regional Grocery Warehouse, its biggest single-build warehouse, serving the city and surrounding areas.

Overall, H-E-B operates more than 420 stores in Texas (about 360 locations) and Mexico and generates annual sales of approximately $36 billion.

“We are thrilled that H-E-B has chosen to expand its footprint in our city and look forward to the new opportunities that will be available to our community,” commented Erin Smith, assistant city manager of Temple.