Federated Department Stores, Inc. recently announced that it has selected a site near Portland, Tenn., to build a new 595,000 square foot distribution center designed specifically to handle the company’s direct-to-consumer orders.
The center is a key element of Federated’s decision, announced separately today, to invest approximately $130 million in capital over the next two years in infrastructure improvements and service enhancements to support continued growth of its direct-to-consumer businesses, including macys.com, bloomingdales.com, Bloomingdale’s By Mail, macysweddingchannel.com and bloomingdalesweddingchannel.com.
“Portland was an optimal site for this important new facility because of its location central to our customers and suppliers, as well as easy access to the I-65 transportation corridor,” said Federated Vice Chair Tom Cole. “Once in place, the Portland distribution center will allow us to receive goods and process and ship online orders to customers quickly and efficiently. Our company also will benefit from the availability of a quality workforce and low operating costs in northern Tennessee.”
Construction of the new Portland distribution center is expected to begin in February 2006, with completion in spring 2007. Initially, the facility will employ about 500 people, with the workforce expected to grow further over time. It will be located in the Kentucky/Tennessee Industrial Park.
The state joined forces with the Springfield/Robertson County Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Industrial Development Board, the City of Portland Mayor’s Office of Community Development, the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association, Forward Sumner, Larry Collins with L&W Properties-Collins Construction Company and TVA.
Federated was represented in its location search by Boult Cummings Conners & Berry PLC and the Nashville office of CB Richard Ellis. The company worked closely with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development on an economic incentive package.
Federated, with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's premier retailers. With the May Company's more than 490 department stores and more than 720 bridal and formalwear stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, Federated operates about 950 department stores and more than 720 bridal and formalwear stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Means the article is accessible only to our magazine subscribers.
