REI plans new Arizona distribution center

Seattle - REI will open a third distribution center, located in Goodyear, Arizona. The specialty outdoor retailers seeks to better support its stores and customers through faster product replenishment and delivery.



"We are privileged to join the community of Goodyear as we expand our distribution capacity and services to the southwest market," said Rick Bingle, REI's VP of Supply Chain. "The Goodyear distribution center will enable us to continue to focus on the needs of customers by moving our gear and apparel more quickly and efficiently, now and into the future."



The new distribution center will serve approximately 40 of REI’s 140 stores in 33 states. Intended benefits for online and in-store customers include shorter replenishment cycle times which will ensure more options on store shelves and shorter deliveries.



Once the Goodyear facility is up and running, the company will reach 20% more customers with two-day ground service.



The 400,000-sq.-ft, facility resides on 34 acres. REI expects the distribution center to be operational in July 2016 and employ approximately 120 employees.



The building will be designed using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, aiming to achieve a minimum of LEED Gold certification. The goal is to reduce energy consumption in the building, reduce energy costs and provide a more comfortable working environment for employees. In addition, the company is pursuing ways to minimize water use inside and outside the building, particularly for cooling and landscaping needs.



The Goodyear facility will complement REI's existing distribution centers in Sumner, Washington and Bedford, Pennsylvania. REI selected Goodyear as the site for its new distribution center after looking at several other locations in the southwest region.