Report: Walmart making major investment to support e-commerce

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly making a significant investment to support e-commerce operations.

According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Walmart is spending $200 million on a new distribution facility in Polk County, Florida that will be dedicated to fulfilling e-commerce orders.

“As we further enhance our fulfillment capabilities with more state-of-the-art e-commerce facilities, we're selecting strategic locations that allow us to serve more customers quickly and at a lower cost," Brent Beabout, senior VP of supply chain and logistics for Walmart Ggobal e-commerce, said in a prepared statement.

The center was first announced in November 2014, but this is the first time Walmart publicly stated it will serve to support e-commerce. It will consist of two facilities. One will be roughly 1 million-sq.-ft., employ about 500 people and be used for smaller items like toys and clothing. The second will be 1.25 million-sq.-ft., employ about 125 people and be used for larger items like exercise equipment.

Amazon.com operates two fulfillment centers nearby. Walmart has not specified when it expects the new facilities to open.