Farmers Home Furniture Plans $10M Alabama Distribution Hub

Farmers Home Furniture will invest $10 million in a new distribution center in northwest Alabama, creating up to 80 jobs and strengthening its expanding retail presence in the Southeast. The distribution center will be located in a 325,000-square-foot facility in Franklin County’s Russellville Industrial Park.

distribution hub
This 325,000-square-foot building in the Russellville Industrial Park will be the site of Farmers Home Furniture’s new distribution center. (Credit: Carter Watkins/WHNT News 19)

“Farmers Furniture operates a growing network of retail stores, and I welcome their decision to open a distribution center in Franklin County, allowing the business to continue to grow,” said Governor Robert Bentley. “Creating jobs for Alabama citizens is my top priority, and I am grateful for the new jobs and the significant investment that Farmers is bringing to northwest Alabama.”

After a multi-state search for distribution center space, Farmers determined that Franklin County was the best fit for its expansion purposes due to the availability of skilled workers and the support of the City of Russellville, the Alabama Department of Commerce, and the Franklin County Development Authority.

“Farmers Home Furniture’s new distribution hub in Russellville is an important component in the company’s strategy to expand its retail footprint,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “This announcement reflects the company’s confidence in Alabama’s workforce and in the area’s infrastructure network.”

Farmers operates 198 stores with more than 2,000 employees in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. Officials said locating the new distribution center in Russellville means Farmers is perfectly positioned to serve its north Alabama and Tennessee locations, as well as move forward with its long-term growth plans. The company now operates a distribution center in Dublin, GA.

“Farmers strives to be a good citizen of every community where it invests, and being an employee-owned company, we have committed to return the benefits of our success to our employee-owners and communities,” said Farmers Chairman and CEO Phillip Faircloth. “We are grateful to the State of Alabama and the City of Russellville for their support, which enabled us to expand our distribution operations here in Russellville.”

Since 2012, Franklin County has had five new company announcements and seven industry expansions totaling $97.8 million in capital investment and 1,105 new jobs, according to the Franklin County Development Authority.

“Companies that locate in Franklin County, Alabama, always have successful endeavors. Farmers will be a great corporate citizen in Franklin County, and the new jobs they create will have a lasting impact on our community,” said Mitch Mays, executive director of the authority.

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