Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently opened its new 1.2 million square foot regional distribution center on Highway A, east of Highway 151, in Beaver Dam. By comparison, the massive Roundy’s distribution center at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc is 1.1 million square feet.
About 650 new jobs were created by the distribution center, according to Wal-Mart. The facility is Wal-Mart’s third distribution center in Wisconsin. From the Beaver Dam center, the company will distribute general merchandise to its stores in portions of eastern and southern Wisconsin, western Michigan and northern Illinois. Wal-Mart’s other Wisconsin distribution centers are located in Tomah and Menomonie.
Beaver Dam was selected for the facility because of its centralized location in the region and because of the work ethic of employees at Wal-Mart’s Beaver Dam store, said Lisa B. Nelson, Wal-Mart’s senior manager for public affairs in Wisconsin.
All of the jobs at the new distribution center are full time positions with benefits, according to Wal-Mart. The benefits include medical, dental, life and disability insurance and paid holidays, vacations and personal time. Employees are also eligible for participation in Wal-Mart’s profit sharing, 401(k) and stock purchase plans, according to the company.
Wal-Mart has faced criticism for having a large number of employees in Wisconsin who receive health coverage from the taxpayer-supported BadgerCare program.
Wal-Mart operates 49 Supercenters, 28 discount stores and 11 Sam’s Clubs in Wisconsin, with 27,993 employees, according to the company.
