Walmart is investing in supply chain automation and utilizing 164 distribution facilities strategically located across the U.S. (George Frey/Bloomberg)
February 6, 2026 5:16 PM, EST
Key Takeaways:
- Walmart will invest $330 million to modernize its Opelousas distribution center with robotics and automation.
- Louisiana leaders say the project will secure jobs and strengthen the region’s logistics capabilities.
- Walmart’s upgrades are part of a national initiative to modernize all 42 regional distribution centers.
Louisiana officials praised Walmart’s new $330 million investment to modernize a regional distribution center with robotics to double traditional shipments in a Gulf South logistics hub.
Susan Bourgeois, secretary of the Louisiana Economic Development Department, recently praised Walmart’s venture to revitalize its Opelousas distribution center with advanced technology.
“Logistics is a newly designated key industry in our statewide strategic plan, and this investment strengthens one of the state’s most important distribution hubs while protecting and advancing Louisiana’s workforce. By integrating advanced technology, supporting long-term job stability, and creating opportunities for employees to grow alongside innovation, Walmart is demonstrating the kind of responsible growth that defines Louisiana’s momentum today,” Bourgeois said.
Walmart ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriers in North America.
Modernization is slated to start next year at the Opelousas distribution center near Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The facility is located some 60 miles west of Baton Rouge.
Louisiana provided state economic development assistance to the project, such as a $10 million performance-based grant tied to equipment investments.
St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard called Walmart’s planned $330 million reinvestment in Opelousas “a tremendous win for St. Landry Parish. This modernization project not only secures existing jobs but also strengthens the foundation of our local economy for decades to come. Walmart’s continued commitment to our community supports local families, sustains critical parish services, and reaffirms that St. Landry Parish is a place where major employers can thrive and grow.”
The project is expected to double the undisclosed number of cases that traditional distribution centers such as the Opelousas site ship to boost capacity and supply chain efficiency for Walmart stores in the Gulf South region.
“By adding robotics and automation, we’re transforming how we serve our stores and customers. This investment allows us to grow alongside the community while creating new opportunities for career growth for our associates,” said Mike Gray, Walmart’s senior vice president of supply chain. “Louisiana and Opelousas have been great partners for nearly 25 years.”
(Louisiana Economic Development)
According to LED, the high-tech additions to the Opelousas facility are part of Walmart’s ongoing “nationwide initiative to upgrade all 42 of its regional distribution centers.”
The company is investing in supply chain automation and utilizing 164 distribution facilities strategically located across the U.S., according to Walmart’s 2025 Annual Report.
“For fiscal 2025, the majority of Walmart U.S.’s purchases of store merchandise were shipped through these facilities, while most of the remaining store merchandise we purchased was shipped directly from suppliers. General merchandise and dry grocery merchandise is transported primarily through the segment’s private truck fleet; however, we contract with common carriers to transport the majority of our perishable grocery merchandise. We ship merchandise purchased by customers on our eCommerce platforms by a number of methods from multiple locations by leveraging our ability to deliver directly from stores and shipping from our 29 dedicated eCommerce fulfillment centers,” the company stated.
As of Jan. 31, 2025, Walmart had a total of 164 distribution centers in the United States, of which the company owned 115 and leased the remainder.
Walmart highlighted the importance of effective transportation operations to its future business in the annual report.
“As we continue to add new fulfillment centers, our fulfillment and technology networks become increasingly complex and operating them in a way that effectively meets consumer demands continues to be challenging,” the report stated. “Moreover, failure to adequately predict customer demand and consumer spending patterns or otherwise optimize and operate our distribution and fulfillment centers could result in excess or insufficient inventory, service interruptions and increased costs, any of which could significantly harm our business.”
In September, Walmart opened a 725,000-square-foot perishable distribution center in South Carolina to receive and process fresh produce, eggs, dairy, meat and frozen goods for delivery to 180 Walmart stores.
“Walmart is reshaping associates’ work by integrating technology that removes some of their most physically demanding tasks. For example, robotics now handle the movement of cases on and off pallets, reducing the need for strenuous lifting,” Walmart noted. “Associates at the facility work alongside the high-tech systems that build store-specific pallets, ensuring fragile items like eggs and yogurt are placed toward the top, to minimize product damage. AI tracks every pallet to ensure accuracy and freshness. This technology also makes unloading at stores faster and easier, allowing store associates to spend more time helping customers.”
