For James Bright, managing a high-tech perishable distribution center is all about taking care of people.
What do you focus on when you’re managing a high-tech perishable distribution center (PDC)? You might assume the answer has to do with technology, but if you ask James Bright, general manager of PDC 3010 in Wellford, South Carolina — it’s the associates.
“Taking care of people is important to me,” he says. “That's what Walmart culture is all about, what Walmart values are about. It's about listening to our associates, listening to their ideas, and then helping those ideas come to fruition.”
James’ role at the high-tech center fits well with his management style. “I'm on the floor all the time,” he explains. “I want to mix it up with the team and learn about them and what makes them tick.”
James, who has two decades of experience in big box distribution, came to Walmart six years ago. In that time, he helped launched Walmart’s first next-generation fulfillment center in Illinois and, most recently, our PDC in South Carolina. He calls these facilities two of his “Walmart kids.” (Ask James about his actual kids, and that’s a whole other story. For starters, he has six!)
So, what’s his work like at this next-generation facility?
“My day-to-day is just making sure that we're running smooth, that we have the volume we need, that we're taking care of our customers,” James says. “But then secondarily, what can I take off their plate? What help do they need? Whether it's through engineering or through product, I'm that intermediate person where I can help bridge the gap.”
Another feature he loves about the PDC? Technology translates to career growth for his team. “Instead of picking thousands of pounds of groceries, they’re troubleshooters,” he explains.
“Folks can come in at an introductory wage, learn the technology, become better — then make more money and stay here longer term.” The benefits of the tech are twofold: “It’s taking care of our customers and taking care of our associates.”
There’s no “I” in PDC
Spend a few minutes talking shop with James and you can be sure he’ll rave about his team. “This is probably the best leadership team I've ever had in my 20 years doing this,” he says.
The management team at PDC 3010 is expert to say the least. By James’ calculations, they have 435 years of combined Walmart supply chain experience. And they’ve put their skills to work learning what it takes to run the high-tech center, which opened in September 2024. So far, the PDC has about 330 associates, but James expects that number to top 500.
How did the team get up to speed on the technology behind the “next-generation” facility? Associates, of course! James’ team headed to Lancaster, Texas, to get a little help from their friends at Walmart’s first PDC. There, they got hands-on experience learning the automated technology. “I couldn't have been more proud of the way that this launch went,” James says.
In September 2024, they successfully launched the facility’s freezer chamber and in spring 2025, they start operations in the other “fresh” chambers, including meat, cold produce, dairy, deli, meat and dry produce items.
Community mindset
Connecting with the community is another part of James’ job. “A lot of my focus is around how do we get into the community, and how do we form these long-term partnerships with folks that are in the area, so we're not just a big building down the road,” he shares.
In addition to working with local first responders, PDC 3010 supports PS, I Love You Ministries, a nonprofit that advocates for children in foster care, and Breaking Bread with Jesus, a local soup kitchen.
It all adds up to a lot of care in and out of the PDC for James, who shares that he’s very happy at his job: “I thoroughly enjoy the culture at Walmart and how our people take care of each other.”
