CONCORD – Kroger will build a high technology customer fulfillment center in Cabarrus County, creating nearly 700 jobs that pay an average wage of about $42,000, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today.
“As e-commerce continues to grow, I’m pleased Kroger will locate this highly advanced fulfillment center in our state,” said Governor Cooper, in a statement. “From our hard working and skilled people to our advanced transportation networks and overall business climate, North Carolina offers the right ingredients for a modern business to succeed.”
Kroger owns Harris Teeter, a grocery chain that was founded in North Carolina.
The facility will be operated by Kroger Fulfillment Network, LLC, a subsidiary of Kroger Co., and will create 692 new jobs by the end of 2026, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Commerce told WRAL TechWire earlier today.
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According to the statement from the Department of Commerce, the facility will be “a vertically integrated network for ambient, chilled, and frozen groceries” and will use artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and automation to provide fresh food delivery to customers.
The company announced its first facility, based in Ohio, earlier this year, and proceeded to open additional facilities in California, Florida, and the Northeast.
“The acceleration of our delivery business continues with the development of an additional customer fulfillment center, advancing our commitment to creating career opportunities and serving shoppers fresh food fast through interconnected, automated, and innovative facilities and last-mile solutions across America,” said Gabriel Arreaga, Kroger’s senior vice president and chief supply chain officer, in the statement.
The total payroll impact is expected to reach more than $29 million, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
The project will be facilitated by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), which was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. An economic model estimates that the project will grow the state’s economy by $820.8 million. The JDIG grant approved earlier today authorizes the potential reimbursement of up to $2.3 million to the company, spread over 12 years, and the first year of the grant period will be 2023.
