H-E-B to open 'futuristic' fulfillment center in Plano

Plano - H-E-B, the well-established Texas grocery chain, is set to broaden its reach in Collin County with an innovative venture, Dallas Metro News reported.

In a Tuesday announcement, the firm revealed its intentions to launch an e-commerce fulfillment center described as "futuristic", a hub dedicated to processing curbside pickups and home delivery orders.

Slated to open later this summer, the novel facility will pioneer this model in North Texas for H-E-B. The center will be situated in proximity to the Plano H-E-B store at 6001 Preston Road.

Company officials disclosed plans to bolster the facility's staff with approximately 125 new hires, tasked with fulfilling customers' online order requirements. Although an exact opening date remains unannounced, the launch is expected sometime this summer.

In the previous year, H-E-B had successfully rolled out a comparable facility in Central Texas, advertising roles that involve "interaction with some of the company's most cutting-edge technologies to assist in fulfilling customer orders."

H-E-B made its presence felt in North Texas last year, marking its entry into the populous areas of the Metroplex with the inauguration of stores in Frisco and Plano. While the San Antonio-based grocer has long had a presence in the peripheral cities of North Texas, last year saw its debut in the region's more populated areas.

Competing in a grocery market long monopolized by Kroger, Tom Thumb, Albertsons, and Walmart, H-E-B may not yet rival their store count, but it is steadily increasing its footprint. Alongside its stores in Plano and Frisco, it is adding locations in Allen, Fort Worth, McKinney, and Forney.