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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Associated Wholesale Grocers Expands Pearl River, Louisiana, Distribution Operations

04/02/2026
Grocery distribution cooperative Associated Wholesale Grocers plans to expand its operations in Pearl River, Louisiana. The $110 million project is expected to retain 334 jobs in St. Tammany Parish.

The investment at the company’s existing distribution facility will include advanced automation within its ambient section to improve product selection, order accuracy, and service reliability, while strengthening operational resilience during severe weather events.

“AWG is excited to partner once again with St. Tammany Parish and LED on this exciting new project within our Gulf Coast Division Support Center, our network’s largest conventional grocery division,” said Richard Kearns, Executive Vice President of Distribution and Logistics for Associated Wholesale Grocers. “With the assistance of St. Tammany and LED, AWG has chosen to make a strategic investment of over $110 million in our current Gulf Coast facility.”

To support the project, the state of Louisiana offered Associated Wholesale Grocers a $500,000 performance-based grant to support infrastructure updates and equipment modernization.

“Associated Wholesale Grocers’ investment demonstrates how technology is strengthening diverse industries in Louisiana, with existing employers continuing to invest in and modernize their operations,” noted Susan B. Bourgeois, Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development (LED). “By integrating advanced systems into a key food distribution operation, the company is improving how essential goods move through the region while creating upskilling pathways for workers to grow alongside industry advancements.”

Associated Wholesale Grocers is a retailer-owned cooperative that provides wholesale distribution, procurement, and support services to independent grocery stores. The company supplies food and non-food products through a network of distribution centers across the U.S.

“Associated Wholesale Grocers’ expansion highlights the region’s role in keeping goods moving nationwide and St. Tammany Parish’s growing distribution corridor,” added Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc.. “This investment reinforces the strength of the region’s logistics infrastructure and supports long-term growth.”

“As a long-standing business partner in Pearl River, we’re thrilled with Associated Wholesale Grocers’ decision to reinvest in St. Tammany,” said Russell Richardson, President and CEO of the St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation. “This investment strengthens our region’s supply chain capabilities while creating high-wage, STEM-related jobs and advancing a more resilient distribution environment.”

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