Lucky's Market to Open Florida Distribution Center

Lucky’s Market, which has planted stores rapidly in Florida, will soon be feeding them from a new Sunshine State distribution center.

The Niwot, Colo.-based specialty chain, which is backed by The Kroger Co., has leased a distribution center in Orlando from which it will distribute produce and bulk goods. Many of those items are currently shipped to Lucky's stores from facilities in Atlanta and Indianapolis. The retailer said logistics savings from the new arrangement would lower the chain’s cost of goods and help to provide savings for shoppers.

Lucky’s operates 21 stores in Florida—more than half of the brand’s 39 overall units—and reportedly has plans to operates as many as 30 stores in Florida by year-end. The 120,000-square-foot distribution center is expected to be in operation in the fall.

Lucky’s Market has named Stacey Dark as VP of distribution to manage the facility. Dark has a strong background in running and leading all logistics of a distribution center. She previously spent five years managing a Florida distribution center for Save-A-Lot. Prior to that, Dark was a manager with Burris Logistics.

“I am thrilled to join the Lucky’s team, help run our new distribution center and further the company’s mission to bring more good food at great prices to more people,” Dark said in a statement. “Not only will the [distribution center] enable Lucky’s to bring in more products and options, it will help decrease our cost of goods and help us pass more savings along to our customers.”