Logistics and transportation power FedEx Corp. is continuing to invest in its parcel network, opening a 500,000 square-foot distribution center near Atlanta to help it handle rising parcel volumes and boost competition with rival UPS Inc.
FedEx Ground, the Memphis-based company's ground delivery subsidiary, had begun operations in the facility in August, and held the official opening on Thursday.
FedEx Ground says the daily volume of packages it handles has more than doubled in the past 10 years. To handle that growth, the company is following an expansion plan in which 17 major hubs have been added and 500 other facilities have expanded or relocated since 2005.
The new facility in Braselton, Ga., about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, is the latest part of the plan, the firm says. At full bore, the automated DC will employ at least 350 workers and process 15,000 packages per hour. That capability will help the company to boost daily package volume capacity and enhance speed and service, FedEx Ground said.
In other recent moves to bulk up its strength in handling swelling e-commerce parcel traffic and preserve its market share from competitors like UPS and DHL, FedEx has restructured its specialized logistics and e-commerce units to fall under its FedEx Trade Networks operations, and expanded ground delivery service to six days a week all year round.
