On Aug. 17, Providence, Rhode Island-based grocery wholesale distributor United Natural Foods, Inc. announced it is breaking ground on a new distribution center just north of Sarasota, Florida.

The new DC will replace an aging facility and will incorporate “the latest in leading warehouse technology to increase efficiency in selecting, packing and loading processes,” the company said in a news release.

The warehouse will be more than one million square feet of capacity and will incorporate some of the latest technology and automation, including KNAPP re-pack automation, which is expected to improve service levels to customers while simultaneously reducing the cost to fill orders, the company said. It is also expected to include workforce-friendly amenities designed to support a best-in-class working experience.

“Distribution is our core business, so when we build a new distribution center we want to incorporate as much automation and technology as possible to improve our ability to service our customers while simultaneously lowering our costs to do so,” said Erin Horvath, Chief Operating Officer of UNFI. “We are also very excited about providing a working environment designed around the needs of both our customers and our associates.”

The new distribution center is located within the SRQ Logistics Center, a 300-acre master-planned business park, next to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and near Interstate 75 and US-301.