Officials break ground on ALDI warehouse in Loxley

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LOXLEY, Alabama — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey joined retail officials, along with representatives from local, county, state and national governments breaking ground Wednesday, Feb. 10 on a new regional headquarters and distribution center at the intersection of County Road 49 and Industrial Park Drive in Loxley for ALDI, one of America’s fastest-growing retailers.

“We’re proud to stand behind ALDI’s commitment to bringing value to the people of Alabama and the Gulf Coast region,” Ivey said. “We welcome the company’s plans for a regional headquarters and distribution hub in Loxley that will create 200 good-paying jobs for our hardworking citizens.”

The upcoming 564,000 square-foot office and warehouse, which is scheduled for completion in 2022, will support ALDI’s growth throughout the Gulf Coast. The project is set to bring approximately $100 million in capital investment in Baldwin County.

“ALDI’s decision to bring this facility to Baldwin County further cements our place as Alabama’s leader for incoming business investment and growth,” said Lee Lawson, president and CEO of Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. “This first-class facility will create a diverse mix of both warehousing and white-collar jobs for our community, and we’re excited to see construction begin.”

Dan Gavin, ALDI vice president of Real Estate, said this is the sixth distribution center to be built in the Southeast, the 26th in the United States. The facility is part of a five-year commitment from the retailer to add new stores throughout the United States, along with expanding and updating several existing stores across the U.S.

“In my 30 years with this company, this is by far the largest undertaking I have been involved in,” Gavin said.

The company has also expanded its eCommerce offering curbside grocery pickup, now available at 700 stores, and delivery in more than 10,000 zip codes.

ALDI currently operates more than 180 stores in Alabama and Florida, with four regional headquarters and distribution centers in the area. Within Alabama, a majority of the ALDI stores are located north of Montgomery. The Loxley project is the retailer's first in Baldwin County.

Gavin said location played a large role in the decision to build the distribution center in Loxley, not only with its proximity to Interstate 10, which stretches from coast-to-coast, but also its proximity to Interstate 65 and its connection to many of ALDI’s distribution centers in the north.

“We will have supplies coming in from throughout the Northern region and this will prove to be the perfect location for us,” he said.

Beyond providing hundreds of local jobs to the area, the facility is a commitment to serve Loxley and the surrounding community, Gavin said. “We have already hired several local contractors both in Mobile and Baldwin counties for this project.”

Among those local companies is A M King, which partnered with ALDI to provide property consulting, design and construction of the new facility. A M King was also instrumental in helping ALDI acquire the land for the site.

“ALDI and A M King have a long and successful relationship,” said A M King Vice President of Operations Dan Crist. “A M King’s full property consulting services were instrumental to ALDI as the company was contemplating a Gulf Coast expansion. We were charged with site selection and due diligence and once the site was identified, ALDI and A M King immediately moved forward with design and construction of the facility.”

ALDI currently operates 30 stores across the state of Alabama and, according to reports, the expansion will also include the building of seven new retail stores in the area, including stores in Foley, Spanish Fort, Daphne and Fairhope in Baldwin County.

The new Loxley facility will serve new ALDI stores in southern Alabama, Louisiana and throughout the Florida Panhandle.

“We are ecstatic that ALDI has chosen Loxley for their regional headquarters and distribution center location,” said Loxley Mayor Richard Teal. “We are eager for the new job opportunities that are to come for citizens as well as the economic growth and development for our community.”

Commission Chairman Joe Davis also welcomed ALDI to Baldwin County.

“I know there are several locations you had to chose from,” he said, “and on behalf of the County Commission, we are glad you chose this one and want to take this opportunity to welcome you to paradise.”

For more information about ALDI and job openings, visit aldi.us.