Saddle Creek Logistics Services preps to open up new Kentucky-based e-commerce fulfillment DC

Lakeland, Fla.-based 3PL Saddle Creek Logistics Services announced earlier this week that it will be opening up a 544,320 square-foot e-commerce fulfillment distribution center in Walton, Ky. this summer. Company officials said that this facility is the most recent example of its nationwide network of DCs, augmenting its various omnichannel supply chain services capabilities.

This new e-commerce fulfillment distribution center is located at 300 Richard Knock Way and is on close proximity to the intersection of Interstates 71 and 75 and near a local major parcel hub, from which more than 90% of the United States is reachable, via ground service, in one-to-two days.

Saddle Creek said that this facility, which is specifically designed for e-commerce fulfillment, was built in 2020, features high ceilings and 110 dock doors, as well as ambient storage for retail and manufacturing distribution. And it added that in order to support e-commerce shipper customers, this facility also offers value-added services, returns management, and parcel shipping programs and warehousing and order management systems focused on peak performance.     

“During the e-commerce boom of the last year, we recognized the need to expand our presence in this portion of the country,” Tom Collins, Sr. Director of Marketing at Saddle Creek, told LM.

“We had many clients that wanted our help in managing their growth and providing distribution from the central part of the country. We started looking for a facility that we could focus on fulfillment for e-commerce clients toward the end of last fall.  We looked at several buildings before landing on this specific location.”

When asked how much of the DC will be leased and how much of it will Saddle Creek occupy, Collins said that Saddle Creek’s plan is to occupy the entire facility and make it available for its clients. 

“This will be a shared space facility for us, and we will end up with multiple clients under contract within the building,” he said.

With the explosive e-commerce growth Saddle Creek has seen over the past year, Collins said there is growing demand for centrally located space equipped for online and omnichannel clients.

“The strategic location of our new facility will enable clients to deliver products to their customers more quickly and cost-effectively,” he explained. “From the Cincinnati area, it’s possible to reach the vast majority of the U.S. in two days or less via ground service—a significant advantage for those wishing to meet consumer expectations for fast free shipping. The space is specifically designed for the high volume of individual orders typical of e-commerce. The 36-foot ceilings will accommodate high-density racking systems for optimal storage density and picking capacity while 110 dock doors will help to speed outbound shipments. With over half a million square feet of space, we can scale to help our clients support business growth as well as fluctuations in order volume due to promotions or seasonality.”

In terms of the primary competitive advantages of this new location from a Saddle Creek perspective, Collins said that over the past few years Saddle Creek has seen remarkable growth in its e-commerce and omnichannel business, and the recent shift to online channels has only intensified that growth.  

“This state-of-the-art facility helps to expand our nationwide footprint, allowing us to better serve our current clients and secure new opportunities,” he said. “We now offer 27 million square feet of warehouse space across 50 facilities nationwide.”