Ace Hardware Plans New Kansas City Distribution Center

Ace Hardware has announced it will build a new 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center in Kansas City, Miss., with plans for it to be fully operational in 2025.

The new Retail Support Center (RSC) in Missouri will be almost twice the size of the average Ace RSC. The hardware retailer said that the new facility is necessary to keep up with 11 consecutive years of new domestic store growth, resulting in the opening of 850 new stores in the past five years.

"We look forward to construction of the new Retail Support Center in Kansas City, which will be a critical part of Ace Hardware's robust supply chain," said Lori Bossmann, EVP, chief supply chain officer at Ace Hardware Corporation. "This new facility will allow Ace to accommodate its recent growth and sales volume, and it will prepare our company for future business opportunities. By strengthening our presence in the Midwest, Ace will be better positioned to fulfill deliveries more frequently, ensuring consistent service levels as new stores are opening within our network."

The Kansas City RSC will be equipped with state-of-the art technology, automation, and warehouse management systems, helping to better distribute its private label hardware goods to regional stores. Construction is expected to begin in Q2 of 2023.  

It will be the first facility in the new KCI 29 Logistics Park, a 3,300-acre megasite assembled by Hunt Midwest. Ace's new RSC is expected to create 350 new jobs. 

"Ace Hardware's new distribution center in Missouri is significant for a multitude of reasons," said Subash Alias, CEO of Missouri Partnership, an economic development organization. "Notably, Ace Hardware will be the first company at KCI 29 Logistics Park. This facility's expansive footprint surpasses the norm and will create hundreds of new jobs in the vibrant Kansas City region while strengthening Missouri's reputation as the best location for companies."