Cencora, a leading global pharmaceutical solutions company, has announced plans to invest $1 billion through 2030 to strengthen and expand its pharmaceutical distribution network across the United States. The initiative aims to boost the company’s capacity, improve efficiency, and enhance the resilience of its nationwide supply chain.
The investment includes the opening of a second national distribution center in Harrison, Ohio, alongside an expanded presence in California and Alabama. These strategic moves are designed to meet growing customer demand and ensure reliable access to medicines across the country.
“Healthcare providers rely on us to provide efficient access to the medications their patients need,” said Bob Mauch, President & CEO of Cencora. “This investment underscores our commitment to building a resilient pharmaceutical supply chain and ensuring timely, reliable access to prescribed medications nationwide.”
The new 530,000-square-foot Ohio facility, expected to be operational by spring 2027, will feature advanced automation technologies, including AI-driven robotic systems and autonomous mobile robots, to streamline operations and boost supply chain efficiency.
Cencora is also set to open a 430,000-square-foot distribution center in Fontana, California by fall 2026. The highly automated facility, nearly twice the size of the current one, will further enhance the company’s West Coast operations.
In addition, the company will expand its specialty pharmaceutical distribution center in Dothan, Alabama, increasing refrigerated storage capacity by 500% and frozen storage by 200% by fall 2026. This move supports the rising demand for cold chain logistics, as specialty pharmaceuticals—used for treating complex and chronic conditions—are projected to make up 70% of new medicines launched through 2027.
“The investments we’re making today will strengthen our ability to support our customers’ current and future needs,” said Rich Tremonte, Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Pharmaceuticals and Animal Health at Cencora.
Cencora currently ships over five million medications and healthcare products daily to tens of thousands of healthcare providers nationwide, reinforcing its critical role in ensuring reliable and efficient pharmaceutical distribution.