Chick-fil-A plans 300 jobs and first company-owned distribution center

Chick-fil-A has lots of restaurants, such as this one near the Mall of Georgia in Gwinnett County. But now the Atlanta-based chain plans to build its first company-owned distribution center, with more than 300 jobs planned north of Atlanta. MATT KEMPNER / AJC

Chick-fil-A has lots of restaurants, such as this one near the Mall of Georgia in Gwinnett County. But now the Atlanta-based chain plans to build its first company-owned distribution center, with more than 300 jobs planned north of Atlanta. MATT KEMPNER / AJC

Chick-fil-A is locating its first company-owned distribution center, along with 300 jobs, in Cartersville.

The chain recently bought 50 acres there and said it plans to begin construction on a facility with capacity to serve up to 300 restaurants. The chain said the new center, northwest of Cobb County, will allow it to continue to innovate its supply chain practices. A pilot center is expected to start taking shipments there this summer, continuing until the bigger facility is completed in the summer of 2020, according to Chick-fil-A.

The privately owned company said it had more than $10 billion in revenue last year. The chain has more than 2,400 restaurants spread across 47 states and Washington, D.C.

It is a primary customer of Georgia’s poultry industry, according to state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who announced the project Thursday, described Chick-fil-A in a press release as “one of our state’s most successful companies and a hometown favorite.”

The chain will use the state’s Quick Start program to train its new hires, according to the release.

No additional locations for Chick-fil-A distribution centers are planned at this time, a spokeswoman for the company wrote in an email.