Recommendation: implement a phased ramp-up that reaches 60% of planned throughput within 90 days and full capacity within 180 days, minimizing delays and aligning with existing carrier lanes. mortenson is coordinating the build; todd ja owen lead site operations, while staniland manages local permitting and community outreach. The plan has been told to the leadership, drawing on past performance to tighten the rollout.
In a strategic frame, the Colorado venture anchors a broader kuljetus network designed to serve core partners and respond to consumer signals. yougov insights cited by leadership show that speed matters to shoppers, while the plan targets reductions in inbound lead times within 6 months and tighter coordination with existing suppliers. The team is located to scale with the region’s growth and to support cross-market partnerships with retailers such as morrisons ja asda.
The facility sits located in the Denver belt, providing a home base for shipments to york and other markets within a lightspeed order-to-cargo cycle. A polska network partner is under review to streamline cross-border movement, with expectations to cut transit times by about half during peak periods. Management has aligned with todd ja owen to ensure a smooth field rollout, drawing on lessons from the past ja existing supplier base.
Dollar General Opens Colorado’s First Distribution Center
Recommendation: commit to permanent automation in the facility to meet store demand across the region, with a phased implementation that minimizes disruption.
Reported figures describe about a storage footprint of approximately 1.3 million square feet, with 28 loading docks and a scalable layout designed to handle multiple products, including foods and general merchandise.
owen, regional ops lead, said the project will create approximately 400 permanent jobs, with roles spanning receiving, automation maintenance, and inventory control; this aligns with local demand in york and jonesville.
The facility will support foods and other categories, with a focus on rapid replenishment to nearby stores in the state and surrounding markets; the on-site storage capability enables faster turns.
Compared with peers such as shoprite and Tesco, this logistics network prioritizes speed, accuracy, and end-to-end visibility through the lightspeed system, enabling real-time updates to the network.
Inbound streams from polska suppliers are routed through the facility to stabilize cycles and reduce close-to-ship times, with continuous support for multiple vendor partners as part of the supplier network.
Progress metrics will include on-time delivery, storage utilization, and order fill accuracy; progressivegrocercom will host coverage and provide benchmarks for other markets like York and Jonesville.
The initiative positions the company as a logistics hub for a multi-state area, with a near-term plan to meet peak seasonal demand and support a diverse range of products from foods to household goods, aiming to achieve improved replenishment accuracy during holidays.
Retail partners can align with the network to offer customized replenishment solutions as a core part of the strategy, with the companys team ready to provide support and joint planning.
Aurora DC Grand Opening: Location, Investment, and Regional Impact
Recommendation: establish a strategically located, approximately 1.2 million-square-foot Aurora facility that blends full automation with a planned, phased integration for a diverse range of products, including specialty lines. This layout supports rapid cross-docking for store replenishment and regional coverage across these chains, reducing transit times to markets in arkansas and neighboring regions. mortenson leads construction with buch as program manager, while burgess coordinates field services and morrisons handles supplier onboarding. Reports from progressivegrocercom and yougov indicate a robust financial case and rising sales momentum, reinforcing the value of this opening in the regional network.
The location provides strategic access to major arterials and rail options, enabling cross-dock throughput and quick service for store clusters. The plan features automation-backed pick paths, with vasos packaging lines for beverages and a flexible, data-driven replenishment approach. boynton-area supplier partners, along with burgess and morrisons, support onboarding and quality control. These efforts are detailed in reports from progressivegrocercom and supported by yougov insights, with arkansas markets cited as a proving ground for scalability.
Financial outlook and regional impact: the project is designed to yield a full cycle of efficiencies, with mortenson and buch overseeing design and construction and burgess leading field execution. The strategic ramp emphasizes careful capex control and a staged automation rollout, supporting faster sales velocity for these chains and for specialty products. Arkansas markets are referenced as a proving ground for multi-site scalability, with progress tracked through formal reports and caper benchmarks, complemented by YouGov sentiment data and vasos-enabled product lines that boost basket size and customer satisfaction.
Facility Specs: Size, Location Near Denver International Airport, and Throughput
Recommendation: pursue an independent, 1.5 million-square-foot facility within 12 miles of Denver International Airport to enable full cross-docking and rapid release of goods for the customer. This strategic position supports early service gains and, per progressivegrocercom, improves the outcome for retailers by delivering reliable, cost-efficient service. Benchmarking against asda networks informs the footprint as well.
Size and storage: floor space around 1.5 million sq ft with approximately 60,000 pallet positions, configured in high-density racking with vasos modules to maximize storage density. The site allows flexible leases, enabling early ramp and staged openings aligned to market demand. These features are designed to create savings across the lifecycle.
Proximity to the Boynton corridor and direct access to I-70 and I-25 reduces internal transit, supports faster inbound/outbound cycles, and improves service levels for retailers across the West and Southeast markets. These people and processes support consistent replenishment across channels.
Throughput targets: 125,000–140,000 cases per day with balanced inbound and outbound flows, enabling a steady release schedule to stores. The layout supports multi-channel fulfillment, from independent retailers to major chains, and is designed to scale with existing demand from customers and the dollar-store segment. These considerations offer resilience against delays and ensure full service after ramp-up.
Market context and partnerships: CBRE data in the southeast corridor supports high demand for large facilities, with staniland and polska supplier networks providing a diversified sourcing base. In e-commerce analogs like flipkart, sustained throughput supports competitive pricing and higher sales velocity; delhaize-inspired service concepts guide the customer outcomes. These connections help independent operators manage delays after openings and optimize dollar spend across the asset lifecycle.
Investment Breakdown: 172 Million Total Spend and Funding Sources

Recommendation: Allocate 68.8 million from internal cash flow and 60.2 million via secured debt to support a planned 1.2 million-square-foot logistics hub, with 20.6 million in incentives and 22.4 million in supplier prepayments to preserve liquidity during the initial weeks of operations.
Cost allocation by category:
- Facilities and fit-out: 60% (≈ 103.2 million) covering site prep, racking, climate control, loading docks, and security; aligns with the planned footprint to support an expansive network across the southeast.
- Technology and automation: 25% (≈ 43 million) including WMS, robotics, network upgrades, and energy efficiency to improve service and customer shopping experience.
- Working capital and contingencies: 15% (≈ 25.8 million) reserved for delays, supplier terms, and the window of initial weeks after launch.
Funding sources:
- Internal funds / cash flow: ≈ 68.8 million (40%)
- Debt facilities / credit lines: ≈ 60.2 million (35%)
- Incentives, grants, tax credits: ≈ 20.6 million (12%)
- Vendor contributions / supplier prepayments: ≈ 22.4 million (13%)
Strategic notes:
- says buch that the mix balances liquidity with long-term value; previously announced supplier terms support the vendor mix.
- owen notes that india-based suppliers can lower lead times and costs, while diversification reduces exposure in the southeast and to regional shocks.
- retailers such as shoprite and morrisons rely on similar metrics; amazon also emphasizes scalable capacity to align with customer shopping patterns over the coming years.
Opening Plans: Grand Opening Schedule, Ribbon-Cutting, and Media Coverage
Recommendation: Schedule a 10:00 a.m. launch-day ceremony at the Aurora site, followed by a 10:45 a.m. media briefing in the adjacent conference area; provide a guided tour of the storage facilities for media and guests. The outcome should deliver a clear narrative for years ahead and maximize exposure across the network, with remarks by Mortenson, Vasos, and Buch.
- Timing and venue: Launch-day ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in the Aurora site atrium; ensure parking signage; offer a live streaming link for remote viewers; plan a 15-minute Q&A after the remarks.
- Ribbon-cutting execution: Oversized scissors, dignitaries, photo sequence at the ribbon; secure a defined media zone and two camera angles for best group shots; remarks by Andrew (former) and a Mortenson representative about the permanent storage facilities.
- Media coverage strategy: Issue a pre-event press kit highlighting the network, openings in the region, the project timeline, and the future outlook; schedule broadcasts and online outlets; ensure Vasos and Buch are available for on-site interviews; provide quotes and a brief project background.
- Logistics and safety: Parking flow, accessibility, and crowd management; signage in English and Spanish where relevant; guided tour path through the storage area without interfering with operations; contingency plan for delays; approximate capacity respected across spaces.
- Partner and timeline notes: Mortenson coordination for the permanent facilities is part of the plan; Andrew (former) team members will be present to share insights; local outlets receive follow-up materials within a week, with a report on outreach results and outcome for the years ahead.
Notes: The caper around the unveiling engages the community while keeping communications precise; the sequence supports further openings across the companys network, and the plan will be refined based on feedback from Vasos, Buch, and nearby teams. March milestones are anticipated for additional openings as the network expands.
Employment Impact: Jobs Created, Training Programs, and Career Paths
Recommendation: fill 420 positions at the denver-area million-square-foot facility located near major highways within six months, prioritizing non-refrigerated handling and home products support. Begin an eight-week onboarding (320 hours) plus 40 hours of safety and equipment training, delivered by mortenson and external partners, with staniland coordinating specialty modules on features and inventory control. The plan aligns with a strategic, multi-location approach that builds on past performance in similar locations and ties to sales objectives. August kickoff supports earlier milestones and the financial plan.
Past data from years of operation at comparable sites show roughly 2,100 roles added across locations, with turnover reduced to mid-teens by year two when training is tightly integrated. The denver-area hub is designed to accelerate the flow of products to customers, including amazon, and to strengthen overall home goods supply capability for retailers and other partners.
staniland says the program delivers clear experience and stability, with caper supporting last-mile coordination and buch contributing to site logistics. mortenson-led construction features robust safety and efficiency capabilities, and the collaboration with both mortenson and buch is expected to shorten ramp time for new hires while delivering sustainable career paths for staff.
| Rooli | Estimated Headcount | Training Hours | Career Path | Key Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logistics associates (non-refrigerated) | 220 | 320 | Associate → team lead → supervisor → planner | mortenson, staniland |
| Operations support & sales coordination | 60 | 160 | Coordinator → supervisor | buch, caper |
| Maintenance & safety specialists | 40 | 240 | Technician → lead technician | staniland |
| Quality assurance & inventory control | 30 | 200 | QA technician → supervisor | mortenson |
Dollar General Opens Colorado’s First Distribution Center – Grand Opening">