In Guilford County, North Carolina, a new chapter in grocery logistics is beginning with ground officially broken on a major distribution center for Ahold Delhaize USA. The site, located near Burlington, will become one of the largest hubs in the company’s East Coast supply chain network and is designed to serve multiple grocery brands across the region. The investment for the facility is valued at roughly $860 million and encompasses more than one million square feet of warehouse space dedicated to handling fresh, frozen and dry goods. This footprint is intended to complement existing distribution infrastructure in the state and expand capacity for the company’s grocery banners, including Food Lion and other brands in the group. Plans call for the center to include modern automation technology and cold storage systems. The placement off Highway 61 in Burlington provides direct access to major transportation corridors, linking road and rail routes that facilitate movement of inventory to stores throughout the Carolinas and beyond. Developers anticipate that this logistical positioning will streamline deliveries and reduce transit time for perishable and temperature sensitive products.
Construction began with a formal ceremony in mid-February 2026, marking the start of site work and preparation. Officials from the company and local government were present as shovels hit the dirt, signaling a long term build out that is expected to carry forward through the latter part of the decade. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2029, after several phases of structural and systems installation. Job creation is an integral element of the project’s impact on the Burlington area. Early estimates from local economic development sources project more than five hundred positions will be added at the facility once operations are in full swing. Initial hires will focus on warehouse, logistics and administrative functions, with additional roles likely to emerge as workflows and automation systems come online. The Burlington distribution center will not be Ahold Delhaize USA’s first in the state. The company’s existing network in North Carolina includes facilities in locations such as Salisbury, Butner and Dunn, which have long served regional grocery supply needs. The new center’s expanded capacity represents a step up in scale and technological integration for the network. When complete, the Burlington site will play a central role in moving product from suppliers to supermarkets and other retail outlets, acting as a pivotal node in the flow of goods along the East Coast. Its design anticipates rising demands for fresh and frozen grocery distribution, particularly as consumption patterns shift and regional populations grow.
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