Why This Matters to Distributors: Distribution capacity continues to expand across North America as companies add warehouse space, move inventory closer to customers, and invest in faster fulfillment. New September projects show that physical infrastructure remains a growth priority even as distributors put more money into automation and other technology.
Distributors and parts suppliers are expanding their warehouse networks in September, adding hundreds of thousands square feet of capacity as broader investment in distribution infrastructure remains strong.
Saval Foods broke ground on a 230,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution center in Maryland. Winsupply acquired additional property next to a distribution center it is expanding in Ohio. AGCO began operating a 115,000-square-foot parts distribution center in California, while Komatsu opened a 135,000-square-foot parts facility in Canada.
The projects are moving forward against a backdrop of continued warehouse investment across North America.
Industrial SalesLeads, a Jacksonville, Florida-based firm that tracks industrial capital projects, said Sept. 4 that its research team identified 199 new planned distribution and supply chain projects in August. That was up from 193 in July and 185 in June and matched April for the highest monthly total reported by the firm this year.
Of the August projects, 179 involved industrial warehouses and 20 involved distribution or fulfillment centers, according to Industrial SalesLeads.
The firm also identified 66 projects involving new construction, 39 expansions and 102 renovations or equipment upgrades. Those categories can overlap because an individual project may include more than one type of work.
Texas led the states tracked by the firm with 20 projects, followed by North Carolina with 12, Florida with 11, New York with 10 and California with nine.
The activity provides a broader backdrop for several distribution projects moving ahead in September.
Saval Foods breaks ground on 230,000-square-foot facility
Saval Foods broke ground on a 230,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution center in Columbia, Maryland, as the family-owned foodservice distributor prepares for additional growth.
The company announced the project on Sept. 9 in conjunction with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office and Howard Hughes Communities.
The Columbia Gateway facility will bring together Saval’s corporate operations, Saval Foodservice and 1932 Specialty Produce & Meat.
Saval said the project will provide additional capacity while allowing it to consolidate operations.
“Bringing our operations together under one roof will allow us to work more efficiently, strengthen collaboration across our teams and create the space we need to continue growing,” CEO Paul Saval said.
Saval said it plans to retain 391 full-time employees and add 107 full-time jobs in Maryland over the next four years.
Founded in 1932, Saval supplies restaurants, delicatessens, caterers and other foodservice customers with products including meat, produce and seafood, according to the company.
Winsupply adds property as national expansion continues
Winsupply added another piece to its distribution network Sept. 3 when it announced the purchase of a 48,000-square-foot building in Miami Township, Ohio.
The building at 9370 Byers Road is adjacent to Winsupply’s Dayton-area distribution center, where the company is adding 200,000 square feet.
Winsupply said the acquisition supports its broader distribution network expansion.
“The purchase aligns well with our continued growth to support courageous entrepreneurs,” Winsupply President Jeff Dice said.
The Ohio project is part of a larger expansion program announced earlier this year.
Winsupply said in March that it planned to add approximately 1.6 million square feet of distribution capacity over two years through projects in Dayton, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.
The company said on Sept. 3 that it had purchased a 1.17 million-square-foot distribution center in Atlanta that will become its eighth distribution center.
Winsupply distributes plumbing, industrial pipe, valves and fittings, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, electrical, waterworks and other products through its network of locally operated companies.
AGCO more than doubles West Coast parts capacity
AGCO began operating a new 115,000-square-foot parts distribution center in Visalia, California, on Sept. 1, more than doubling the agricultural equipment manufacturer’s West Coast parts capacity.
The company announced the opening of Aug. 31. The new facility replaces its previous Visalia operation.
AGCO said the additional space will allow it to carry a broader selection of replacement parts closer to dealers and farmers across the western United States.
The facility also incorporates warehouse automation, high-density storage, and forecasting technology.
“We reimagined every step of how parts move, from receiving to shipping, and built the systems to match, including advanced automation, smarter forecasting and a deeper local inventory,” Stefan Caspari, AGCO senior vice president of customer success and North American agriculture, said.
The distribution center includes vertical lift modules, narrow-aisle racking and dedicated storage for oversized components. It supports AGCO brands including Fendt and Massey Ferguson.
AGCO said a formal grand opening is planned for the first quarter of 2027.
Komatsu doubles Canadian warehouse capacity
Komatsu opened a 135,000-square-foot parts distribution center in St. Albert, Alberta, on Sept. 10, doubling the equipment manufacturer’s previous warehouse capacity in Canada.
The Edmonton area facility supports dealers serving the mining, construction, and forestry industries.
Komatsu said the additional capacity will allow it to stock a broader assortment of fast-moving and strategically important parts closer to dealers and customers. The company said the facility can provide 24-hour parts delivery to dealers throughout much of Western Canada.
The operation also incorporates Komatsu’s global planning and warehouse management systems, updated warehouse layouts, automation, and new equipment.
“The new Edmonton parts distribution center enhances our ability to deliver the right parts at the right time, helping customers stay productive while supporting future growth across Canada,” Komatsu North America CEO Rod Bull said.
Investment goes beyond adding square footage
The Industrial SalesLeads data suggests warehouse investment extends beyond constructing larger buildings.
Of the 199 planned projects the firm identified in August, 102 involved renovations or equipment upgrades, compared with 66 involving new construction and 39 involving expansions. Because projects can fall into multiple categories, those figures should not be added together to calculate the total number of projects.
Industrial SalesLeads also identified several large projects in the planning stages, including a 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center in Wallkill, New York; a 1 million-square-foot distribution and office facility in Apple Valley, California; and a 552,000-square-foot distribution center in Louisville, Kentucky.
The firm did not identify the companies behind those projects in its public report. It said the projects were still seeking approval.
That makes them different from the Saval, Winsupply, AGCO and Komatsu projects, which have reached the groundbreaking, acquisition, expansion, or operating stage.
But the projects collectively point to continued investment in the physical infrastructure behind distribution.
Saval is consolidating operations while adding capacity. Winsupply is expanding its national distribution network. AGCO has more than doubled its West Coast parts capacity. Komatsu has doubled its Canadian warehouse capacity.
At the same time, the Industrial SalesLeads numbers indicate significant investment in renovations and equipment upgrades, suggesting companies are putting money not only into additional square footage but also into the operations inside their facilities.
For distributors, the message is clear: Warehouses remain a central part of the growth strategy. Companies are adding capacity, repositioning inventory and upgrading fulfillment operations as they compete on product availability, delivery speed, and customer service.
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