BY MAUREEN WERTHER
Ace Hardware Corp. has begun work on
a 400,000-square-foot addition to its existing
warehouse at 55 Northern Pines Road in
Northumberland.
The company said the new space will be devoted
exclusively to warehousing inventory and providing
order fulfillment to the more than 500 Ace
locations throughout the northeast.
“This facility is part of Ace Hardware’s supply
chain network of Retail Support Centers strategically
located across the globe,” said a statement
from the office of Frank Nesbitt, Wilton Retail
Support Manager for Ace Hardware Corp. “These
warehouses supply merchandise to the more than
4,800 Ace retail stores worldwide,” and the new
space at the Northumberland facility “will support
current and future inventory levels and sales. In
addition, much of the space will have pallet racking
installed to house greater quantities of inventory.”
The Northumberland location is strategic to
the company’s mission of serving its retail stores
with service and prompt order fulfillment so it can
“provide the best possible products to customers,”
said Nesbitt.
In addition, the easy access to major highways
makes Northumberland a logical choice for transporting
goods.
Nesbitt noted the positive association and
strong collaborative nature of the relationship Ace
has enjoyed for almost 20 years with the leadership
in Wilton and Gansevoort, as well as with county
and state leaders.
He also attributed part of the decision to expand
to the "hardworking, dedicated, and loyal team
members that work in this facility." He said approximately
70 percent of the facility's employees
live within a 15-mile radius of the building.
The employees and surrounding communities
stand to benefit from the additional warehouse
space, as Ace anticipates the creation of 30 new
jobs throughout the expansion process.
Nesbitt stressed Ace's ongoing commitment to
the local community and noted that, "in 2015 alone,
the Northumberland facility raised $65,000 for the
Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center…team members from this Ace Hardware facility are
active leaders and contributors to the local Wilton
Food Pantry" and support the local volunteer fire
department.
The groundwork has already begun and construction
is expected to continue throughout the
spring. No unusual permitting has been required
that might otherwise slow the process.