Walmart previews Atlanta e-commerce facility

Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday previewed a new dedicated e-commerce distribution facility near Atlanta.

The 1.2 million square-foot warehouse in Union City, Ga., is the third large-scale fulfillment center to open in as many months, and features state-of-the-art automation and warehousing systems, the retailer said. It will be used in conjunction with Walmart’s existing smaller facilities, stores and transportation network to ship online orders efficiently to customers around the country.

When fully operational, the facility will create nearly 400 full-time jobs. “We are excited about what this center provides for our Georgia customers and are grateful to Fulton County for welcoming us to do so,” Neal Maguire, general manager of the Atlanta fulfillment center, said. “This center will not only provide jobs and economic development for the community, but it will allow us to fulfill the needs of our customers in a more convenient and efficient fashion.”

The sneak preview event included presentations of $350,000 in grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation to four local community groups.