According to Supply Chain Dive, Amazon is preparing to build a 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Norwich, Connecticut. The facility is expected to play a key role in the e-commerce giant’s supply chain by serving as a first-mile hub for goods before they are sent to middle-mile sortation centers and eventually to last-mile delivery locations.
Facility Overview and Purpose
The new distribution center is set to store, pick, pack, and ship goods to downstream sortation centers and localized delivery hubs. The site is expected to leverage advanced sortation technology to manage bulk inventory for further order fulfillment. The facility is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to streamline its supply chain and improve delivery efficiency.
According to Elena Rossi, a project manager at Bluewater Property Group working with Amazon on the project, the Norwich center is a first-mile facility. First-mile facilities are typically used to receive goods before they are distributed to middle-mile centers for further processing. The middle-mile centers then send items to last-mile delivery locations for customer fulfillment.
Amazon has a long history of investing in supply chain infrastructure to support its e-commerce operations. The company has previously constructed multiple distribution centers across the U.S., many of which are equipped with advanced automation and robotics to improve efficiency. The new Connecticut facility is expected to follow a similar model.
Implications for Supply Chain Professionals
For supply chain professionals, the construction of a new 1 million-square-foot facility represents a significant investment in logistics infrastructure. The use of high-tech sortation equipment at the site is expected to improve inventory management and reduce lead times for customer orders.
Experts in supply chain management note that such investments are becoming increasingly common as e-commerce continues to grow. The need for faster delivery times has led many companies to reconfigure their supply chains to prioritize speed and efficiency. The use of first-mile and middle-mile facilities is a key part of this strategy.
According to a 2025 industry report by McKinsey & Company, e-commerce is projected to account for over 25% of global retail sales by 2027. As a result, companies are under increasing pressure to optimize their supply chains to keep up with customer expectations.
Timeline and Future Plans
The exact timeline for the construction of the new facility has not been disclosed. However, the project is currently in the early planning stages, according to Bluewater Property Group. The company is working with local authorities to finalize the necessary permits and approvals.
Amazon has not provided a specific timeline for when the facility is expected to open. The company typically takes 12 to 18 months to complete construction of a new distribution center of this size. Based on this timeline, the facility could potentially open as early as 2027.
Amazon has also been expanding its supply chain network in other parts of the U.S. In 2025, the company announced plans to open two additional distribution centers in Texas and Georgia. These projects are part of a broader effort to improve delivery times and reduce shipping costs for customers.
Source: Supply Chain Dive
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
