AWG Opens La. Warehouse

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Associated Wholesale Grocers here said Monday it has begun shipping all product categories to member stores from its new Pearl River, La., distribution center.

The 723,000-square-foot facility (pictured below), located about 40 miles north of New Orleans, is expected to eventually service more than 300 stores — half from the wholesaler's new Gulf Coast division that stretches from Tallahassee, Fla., to Houston, and the other half from the company's Memphis, Tenn., division.

The new facility will stock more than 20,000 items, including many locally produced products, such as seasonally-caught Gulf seafood. Industry sources said the facility will be capable of handling between $1 billion and $2 billion worth of business.