Walmart has opened the doors to a new 102,000-square-foot pharmacy fulfillment center in Frederick, Maryland.
The retail giant is pushing automation across to create faster delivery for increasing consumer demand for its Central Fill pharmacy operations.
The new fulfillment center will complete around 100,000 prescriptions daily to deliver to over 700 Walmart locations.
This aligns with Walmart’s recently announced business strategy, to push technology across its supply chain to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and operational speed.
Kevin Host, SVP of Pharmacy at Walmart, said: “This facility represents the next chapter in how we care for our customers.
“With greater efficiency behind the scenes, our pharmacists can spend more time in front of patients, offering expert guidance, building trust, and delivering better health outcomes.”
The retail giant has ambitious plans to grow its Central Fill network to support 90% of Walmart pharmacies by 2026.
Its new center features pharmacy automation systems, robotic carriers, weighting systems, and a conveyance network to speed up the process for the retail giant.
Moving forward, Walmart plans two facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, and Republic, Missouri, which are slated to open in 2026.
The company said on its website: “With 4,000 stores located in areas affected by a shortage of medical providers, Walmart pharmacies are often the most accessible healthcare provider in the community.
“Many clinical services happen during evenings and weekends, 75% after 5 pm, when other providers may be unavailable.”
Meanwhile, Walmart is making major changes as it deals with the impact of additional tariffs, including laying off 1,500 people and warning customers of price increases due to tariffs.
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