Dollar General is expanding its operations with the addition of its DG Fresh facility in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Construction is currently scheduled to begin on a 160,000 square foot DG Fresh Ardmore in fall 2020, according to Dollar General officials. It is expected to provide dual distribution synergies with the Company’s traditional dry facility that opened in Ardmore in 1994. The facility is expected to be complete by spring 2021.

“Dollar General’s announcement represents its continued commitment to Ardmore. The new facility is the result of a great partnership between the Ardmore Development Authority, Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Dollar General,” said Mita Bates, President and CEO of the Ardmore Development Authority.

“Upon completion of the new facility, the Dollar General campus at the Ardmore Municipal Airpark will contain over 1,450,000 square feet of distribution space, with an estimated employment of 800. The decision by Dollar General to expand in Ardmore with the Fresh distribution concept is significant, as their original location was to be in the Dallas Metroplex,” he added.

“Dollar General’s supply chain network plays a critical role in ensuring the products customers need and want are delivered to our nearly 17,000 stores in a timely and consistent manner. The addition of these facilities continues to drive efficiency and service through our exceptional supply chain network,” said Mike Kindy, Dollar General’s executive vice president of global supply chain. “We are grateful for the continued partnerships with state and local leaders in each of these communities.”

DG Fresh facilities will support the company’s strategic, multi-phased shift to self-distribution of frozen and refrigerated products, such as dairy, deli and frozen products. As Dollar General works to build the infrastructure to better support customers, the company noted it is investing in communities across the country and creating new career opportunities. As of May 2020, Dollar General was self-distributing to more than 9,000 stores from six DG Fresh cold storage facilities.

The addition of distribution facilities also provides opportunities for the expansion of Dollar General’s private fleet network, company officials noted. As Dollar General continues to invest in its employees, the Company continues to grow its DG Private Fleet training program, which provides fully-funded, on-the-job training to store and distribution center employees interested in earning their Class A CDL (commercial driver’s license) and joining the Fleet team.