By
Fibre2Fashion
Published
Jun 9, 2023
VF Corporation, a leading portfolio of active-lifestyle brands, has launched operations at its new distribution centre in Ontario, California, employing approximately 550 people during peak periods.
The new 1.2 million-square-foot facility is the largest and most efficient within VF’s global network of 46 distribution centres. The facility’s state-of-the-art automation and capabilities, implemented in partnership with Vanderlande Industries, will enable VF to provide more efficient distribution services for its owned retail stores, wholesale customers and owned e-commerce orders.
The centre’s 76-million-unit annual shipping capacity will initially service Vans and The North Face with the capability to add more VF brands. With a digital-first design, the centre has the capacity to ship 485,000 units per day – twice the processing capacity and efficiency compared to a traditional distribution centre – and provide next day e-commerce fulfilment for consumers in California, Nevada, Arizona and southern Utah.
The new centre was designed to support VF’s sustainability commitments, with features and innovative systems that help reduce the impact on the environment, including an estimated 56% in annual energy cost savings through energy efficient lighting, controls and submetering, a total of 48% recycled content in building materials, diversion of 98% of construction waste from the landfill, and designing for daylight and views in the regularly occupied areas of the building.
The building design and construction has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
“We are proud to introduce VF’s largest and most efficient distribution centre to date. Servicing our consumers and customers is our number one focus and this facility allows us to get our product to our consumer faster using technologically advanced equipment, which results in reduced lead times and increased efficiency in meeting consumer demands,” Cameron Bailey, EVP global supply chain, said.
“The new distribution centre was designed with employee health and well-being in mind. The centre offers EV chargers, both indoor and outdoor restorative areas and features a robust fitness facility on site to encourage health and wellness,” Jon Watschke, vice-president, West Coast Distribution Centre Transition, added.
Francisco Moreno Velo, president of Warehouse Solutions North America, Vanderlande Industries, said, “Vanderlande is proud to partner with VF to implement market-leading, future-proof automated warehouse solutions for the Ontario, California distribution centre to more effectively meet VF’s consumer demands across wholesale, retail and e-commerce in the region.”
Recruitment for the fulfilment centre took place throughout early 2023. A majority of the roles have been filled, with additional operator jobs to be added as volume increases.
