Walmart To Close Texas Fulfillment Center, Impacting Hundreds Of Jobs

Walmart is closing a large Sam's fulfillment center, impacting around 200 Texas jobs. Could this mean trouble for the retailer?

Which Texas Fulfillment Center Is Walmart Closing?

According to MySA, Walmart is closing the Sam's fulfillment center located at 2440 SE Loop 820 in Fort Worth.

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The center fulfilled e-commerce orders for Sam's Club. The closure is not due to lagging sales (in fact, Sam's is doing just fine), but in favor of a newer, more high-tech facility located in Lancaster, Texas.

Perhaps closure is too strong a word when "transfer" may be more appropriate.

Is Walmart Laying Off Fulfillment Center Workers in Texas?

The employees of the Fort Worth fulfillment center are being offered transfer opportunities. If they are willing to relocate to Lancaster, they are being offered a $7,500 transfer bonus and relocation benefits. Lancaster is about 40 miles Southeast of Fort Worth.

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These perks are available for transfers to any of Walmart's high-tech facilities. However, workers who want to stay in the Fort Worth area are being offered transfers to other area centers, but with no bonus.

So there may be some workers who cannot or do not want to move or commute to a new center who will be out of a job.

Why Is Lancaster, Texas, Getting the Fulfillment Center?

Walmart has invested in Lancaster because it is in a geographically strategic spot. According to WFAA:

Lancaster's convenient location and access to transportation infrastructure and a skilled workforce helped attract Walmart.

Walmart believes so much in Lancaster that there are three fulfillment centers, including a perishable items center for things like milk and eggs.