Macy’s, Inc. has taken a transformative leap in retail logistics with the grand opening of its new automated customer fulfillment and store replenishment center in China Grove, North Carolina. Touted as the company’s largest and most advanced facility, this milestone underscores Macy’s strategic commitment to supply chain modernization and unmatched customer experience. This marks a significant step in modernizing the supply chain and elevating the customer experience across every channel—with faster deliveries, well-stocked stores, and seamless service.
The Tech-Powered Heart of Macy’s Bold New Chapter
Spanning an expansive 2.5 million square feet, the China Grove fulfillment center is designed with state-of-the-art automation and an advanced warehouse management system, making it Macy’s network leader in storage capacity, productivity, and throughput potential. It fulfills orders for all retail categories—apparel, beauty, home, toys—enabling faster, consolidated shipments and fewer packages, thanks to a single-location solution
As Tom Edwards, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Macy’s, Inc., remarked, “With this investment, we’re building a faster, more efficient and agile network designed to meet our customers’ needs today and in the future”.
Smarter, Faster, and Ready to Scale
The China Grove facility will first serve the Macy’s nameplate, with plans to expand to Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury over the next two years. Macy’s strategy aligns with retail’s omnichannel imperative: place inventory close to customers, process orders quickly, and replenish stores just in time—at scale.
Equipped with high-performance order picking robots, conveyor systems, and a next-generation WMS, Macy’s tested each automation pillar at two previous sites, doubling productivity, and expects even greater efficiency and accuracy with the new management system in China Grove. The goal? To build a model to scale this technology across the network in the years ahead.
Workforce, Community, and Upgraded Skills
Hailing the milestone, Sean Barbour, SVP of supply chain operations, explained, “Over the past two years, we’ve tested and learned from automation at other sites, refining how it can make our operations more efficient and our colleagues work safer and smarter,” said Sean Barbour, senior vice president of supply chain operations.
“Now, we’re building on those lessons with our most advanced deployment yet, including the debut of a new warehouse management system that will provide greater accuracy, flexibility, and speed. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone while continuing to modernize and strengthen our supply chain across the network.”
Beyond logistics, Macy’s is making tangible local commitments:
- $250,000 pledged to local organizations, including a new automation training lab at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, so students can master the same tech as the China Grove team.
- Ongoing community partnerships and upskilling for Macy’s associates, empowering them to build meaningful careers in a modern, tech-enabled environment.
Retailers Take Note—A New Model Emerges
Industry media highlight Macy’s China Grove investment as a future-forward template:
- Mobile pick robots and automated retrieval systems slash walking distances and boost productivity, shifting how supply chain labor is organized.
- A scalable model that other retailers may emulate as omnichannel demand rises.
- A rare win for U.S.-based logistics mastery in the highly competitive retail sector.
Strategic Edge and Looking Ahead
The opening of our China Grove facility is a significant step in modernizing our supply chain and elevating the customer experience across every channel—with faster deliveries, well-stocked stores, and seamless service. With this investment, we’re building a faster, more efficient, and agile network designed to meet our customers’ needs today and in the future.
