USA: Navy Exchange Service Command Opens Its State-of-the-Art Northeast Distribution Center

The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) held a ribbon cutting ceremony to open its new state-of-the-art Northeast Distribution Center (NEDC) at CenterPoint Intermodal Center, Suffolk, Va., Oct. 26.

“We are thrilled NEXCOM has chosen to base their Northeast Distribution Center in Suffolk,” said Suffolk Mayor Linda T. Johnson. “NEXCOM has a strong track record of efficiently serving their military customers and families. We know Suffolk’s strategic location was an important factor in their decision to build this state-of-the-art center. We are happy to welcome them to Suffolk.”

The 350,000 square-foot warehouse space will be the distribution and freight consolidation point for 152 NEX and Marine Corps Exchange outlets located in the Mid-Atlantic and Europe/Africa/Southwest Asia regions. The NEDC handles approximately $140 million of merchandise, at cost, per year.

“The opening of this new distribution center is truly another success story in our continuing efforts to delight our customers,” said Robert J. Bianchi, NEXCOM’s chief executive officer. “While our customers won’t see this distribution center personally, they will reap the benefits from this state-of-the-art facility.”

The new distribution center offers many benefits including increasing productivity through reduction in steps in receiving, picking and shipping; the ability to increase the amount of material handled while leveraging costs through automation; the ability to handle more merchandise than is currently being delivered to NEXs, which will lower corporate cost structure and relieve congestion in NEX backrooms; and finally, increasing productivity through a more efficient layout and racking configuration. The new distribution center replaces two older buildings used by the NEDC in Norfolk, Va.

“The city of Suffolk is ideally placed to become home to NEXCOM’s new state-of-the-art distribution center,” said U.S. Rep. J. Randy Forbes. “This project underscores the strategic importance and opportunity that exists for Suffolk and the entire Hampton Roads area, as they connect the Port of Virginia with the rest of Virginia’s transportation networks.”

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Naval Today Staff,October 29, 2012; Image: US Navy