AmerisourceBergen will build three new DCs; Cardinal tucks in Harvard Drug Corp.

AmerisourceBergen has announced that it will build three new distribution centers, in the South, Midwest and Northeast to accommodate customer growth and technology capabilities. Construction will start this summer and be complete in 18-24 months. These investments are part of a broader service capability, says the company, to:

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Increase distribution capacity and facilities that support innovation

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Advance customer issue monitoring and resolution tools

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Improve customer communication technology.

The company’s drug-distribution unit currently has 25 DCs across the country; there are additional facilities in its specialty group, and facilities acquired this spring through its acquisition of MWI Veterinary. A new facility opened in Columbus, OH, last December, and another facility, in Orlando, FL, was rebuilt last year. ABC handles 35% of US drug distribution.

"We grow when our customers grow, so it's no surprise that our goal is to help successfully execute the patient-focused strategies of the manufacturers, providers, pharmacists and retailers who we support," said Bob Mauch, EVP and president of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp.