Giant Food Stores plans to open a 124,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Philadelphia.

CARLISLE, PA—Giant Foods Stores, LLC reports it intends to spend $114 million over the next 18 months to expand its operations in Pennsylvania. The initiative will include a new fulfillment center in Philadelphia and new store locations in Pocono Summit and Swatara Township.

The grocer states that the capital program builds on the success of its recently launched Giant Direct and Giant Heirloom Market formats.

The company unveiled plans to remodel 35 existing stores in 2020 and 2021. With this investment, Giant will grow its commitment to the city of Philadelphia, its home market in Central Pennsylvania, and Monroe County. Giant announced the capital investment program at last week's 104th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Nicholas Bertram, president, Giant Food Stores, says, "The accelerated growth of Giant Direct has set the stage for additional investment opportunities that extend our e-commerce geographic reach. At the same time, our Giant Heirloom Market format has enabled us to reach an entirely new demographic in Philadelphia."

Giants states it will construct its largest omni-channel fulfillment center in support of its e-commerce brand, Giant Direct at 3501 Island Ave. in Philadelphia. The 124,000 square foot facility will be completely renovated and will provide the firm with more capacity, better distribution and room to grow home delivery and in-store pick-up serving. Giant will partner with Peapod Digital Labs, an Ahold Delhaize USA company, on the development of the project.

The first Giant Direct facility to open in Philadelphia is expected to bring more than 200 new jobs to the Eastwick neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Giant also announced it will open a new 52,000-square-foot store in the Harrisburg market. Located at 6301 Grayson Road in Swatara Township, construction on the existing structure will begin in early 2020 and the new store will create approximately 150 new jobs. The company plans to open the Swatara Township store later this year. GIANT currently operates eight stores in Dauphin County, employing approximately 1,550 team members.

Also planned is a new, ground-up 66,000-square-foot Giant location that will be built in Pocono Summit at the southwest corner of Interstate 380 and state Route 940. The new store will expand the Giant brand along the Interstate 380 corridor and within Monroe County. Currently, a 2021 opening is being planned and the company anticipates hiring 200 team members for the new location.

The company plans to remodel 35 stores in various locations across its operating footprint that, in some cases, may include a new Beer & Wine Eatery. Future remodels in the Commonwealth include the communities of Camp Hill and St. Davids.

Giant, which is the second largest private employer in Pennsylvania, currently employs more than 27,000 people statewide.