Cencora plans to invest $1 billion through 2030 to expand its pharmaceutical distribution network in the U.S.
The investment includes opening a second national distribution center in Harrison, Ohio, according to a Nov. 5 news release from the company. The 530,000-square-foot facility is expected to be fully operational by spring 2027 and will incorporate advanced automation, including robotic handling systems, AI and autonomous mobile robots.
Cencora also plans to expand its West Coast presence with a 430,000-square-foot distribution center in Fontana, Calif., nearly twice the size of its current site. That facility is expected to be operational by fall 2026.
To support growing demand for specialty medicines, Cencora is expanding its distribution center in Dothan, Ala., increasing refrigerated storage capacity by 500% and frozen storage capacity by 200%. The site is one of three in the network dedicated to specialty pharmaceutical distribution.
The company said specialty pharmaceuticals are projected to account for 70% of new drug launches through 2027, and half of all new products launched globally during that period will require cold chain storage.
