Kroger to bring 120 new jobs to Forest Park center

ATLANTA - Governor Nathan Deal today announced that Kroger, one of the world's largest grocery retailers, will relocate to a new distribution center in Forest Park, creating 120 new jobs and investing more than $175 million over the next five years.<br /> <br /> "Georgia is the ideal location for Kroger to establish its newest distribution facility," said Deal. "Our interconnected highway and railway system, low cost of doing business and highly skilled workforce create a solid foundation to better serve Kroger's markets in the Southeast."<br /> <br /> Kroger will open a state-of-the-art distribution center on the nearly 1,000-acre Fort Gillem property, a former U.S. Army base. The one-million-square-foot distribution center will service existing operations in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The new jobs at the Forest Park facility will include warehouse, security, transportation management and other maintenance positions. <br /> <br /> "Kroger is excited to close on 253 acres of property to build a new state of the art distribution center," said Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger's Atlanta Division. "The one-million-square-foot facility will improve efficiencies, help the economy in the communities we serve and deliver products to our stores much more quickly. We thank Governor Deal, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Forest Park Mayor [David] Lockhart and the city of Forest Park for supporting Kroger with this project."<br /> <br /> The city of Forest Park assisted Kroger with this new facility. The Fort Gillem property, where the Kroger facility will locate, was officially transferred from the Department of Defense to the city of Forest Park for this project. The city of Forest Park partnered with master developer Forest Park/Fort Gillem Implementation Local Redevelopment Authority (ILRA) to redevelop the former army base to be named Gillem Logistics Center.<br /> <br /> "The city of Forest Park will see 1,500 new jobs over the next two years plus new revenue to support critical services for our residents," said David Lockhart, mayor of the city of Forest Park. "Gillem Logistics Center will be the region's premier, world-class, institution grade, and regional and e-commerce distribution park."<br /> <br /> Kroger has a significant presence throughout Georgia and currently employs more than 24,000 Georgians. The company's existing operations include two food manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and numerous retail locations in Georgia. Charlie Moseley, senior project manager on the logistics, energy, agribusiness and food (LEAF) team at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), assisted the company on behalf of the state.<br /> <br /> "Leading companies such as Kroger are finding Georgia to be the best place for their distribution operations," said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Carr. "We are fostering growth in this area and are seeing companies in this industry thrive, thanks to our pro-business resources and competitive business climate."

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