Arkansas-based retail giant Walmart has opened a massive new 1.5 million square-foot fulfillment center 15 miles south of Dallas in Lancaster. The company said the facility at 2500 Belt Line Road will enable it to “fulfill more orders, more quickly.”

The center will be home to roughly 1,000 Walmart associates, the company added.

“Walmart is paving the way for good jobs and great careers in the Dallas region with the Lancaster fulfillment center. These tech-powered jobs will drive the future of Walmart’s continued promise of speedy shipping and delivery for customers in the south-central U.S. just in time for the holidays,” Karisa Sprague, SVP of Fulfillment Network Operations for Walmart U.S., said in a statement. “Our next generation fulfillment centers are the perfect example of how we’re a people-led, tech-powered retailer.”

Mayor Clyde C. Hairston called the opening “an exciting day for the city of Lancaster.”

“We’re thrilled to be the new home of Walmart’s newest state-of-the-art fulfillment center,” Hairston added in a statement. “This facility will be a great benefit to the residents in our city and the greater North Texas region.”

The company said that the Lancaster center is the third of four next-generation facilities announced last year. A recently announced fifth facility will open in 2026.

Combining people, tech, and machine learning for faster shipping and delivery

Walmart said its next-generation facilities bring a combination of people, technology, and machine learning together to achieve faster shipping and delivery, while increasing Walmart.com order fulfillment capacity.

Combined with the rest of Walmart’s fulfillment network, these next-generation fulfillment centers will enable the retailer to reach 95% of the U.S. population with the service, Walmart said.

Walmart Fulfillment Services, Walmart’s end-to-end third-party fulfillment service, will also leverage the space to fulfill Marketplace items, the company said.

“Walmart’s new facility in Southern Dallas County will not only create impactful employment opportunities but will also provide for enhanced quality of life for my constituents and residents across Dallas County,” Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said in a statement. “I look forward to partnering with Walmart as they continue to invest in our community.”

The retailer said it’s hiring for a variety of positions, including tech-focused jobs.

“We’re proud to create even more opportunities for associates to build a career at Walmart. associates at the Lancaster facility will work with cutting-edge technology and be a part of how we’re delivering increased shipping speeds for our customers,” said Josh Lamping, GM of Fulfillment Center #7382 for Walmart U.S. “I’m excited that we are at the forefront of what’s next for Walmart as we continue to modernize the business for our customers.”

Walmart noted the facility’s grand opening with a $5,000 donation to Lancaster Parks, which it said reflects the company’s commitment to the community.

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