Online pet product retailer, Chewy, to open warehouse in York County

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Chewy Inc., a fast-growing online retailer for pet products, supplies and prescriptions, is enlarging its commitment to the region with a new fulfillment center in Lewisberry.

The warehouse covers 732,000 square feet and is expected to produce some 400 full-time job, according to the York County Economic Alliance.

“This project is a testament to York County’s market access, especially in a year of COVID-19 recovery for businesses of all sizes,” Kevin Schreiber, president and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance, said in a release. “Our team is full of pet lovers, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Chewy to York County.”

Schreiber told the Central Penn Business Journal a project of this magnitude “underscores reasons to be optimistic about the economy right now.”

“As Chewy’s fourth fulfillment center in the state of Pennsylvania, this newest location is a continuation of our investment in the region,” Pete Krillies, vice president of real estate and facilities at Chewy Inc., said in the release. “We appreciate the partnership with local community leadership, including the York County Economic Alliance. We look forward to making a positive economic impact in the community of York County with the creation of 400 new jobs, while enhancing our delivery network in the northeast region.”

Construction is complete, and Chewy is targeting this summer for the opening, company spokeswoman Joanna Hess said.

The Lewisberry fulfillment center will be Chewy Inc.’s 12th, she said. The other three in Pennsylvania are at 40 Dauphin Drive, Mechanicsburg; 600 New Commerce Blvd., Wilkes-Barre; and 37 Archbald Heights Road, Jessup. Jessup is the first to be fully automated.

Based in Dania Beach, Fla., Chewy calls itself “the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere.”

“We believe that we are the preeminent online source for pet products, supplies and prescriptions as a result of our broad selection of high-quality products, which we offer at competitive prices and deliver with an exceptional level of care and a personal touch,” a company statement said.

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, the company reported net sales of $1.78 billion, which was 45% more than the year before.

It was the third consecutive three-month period in 2020 with nearly a 50% increase in business.

Last year, Chewy Inc. CEO Sumit Singh was named to the “2020 “Bloomberg 50” – Bloomberg Businessweek’s annual list of “innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who have changed the global business landscape over the past year.”

He took over as Chewy CEO in 2018. In a December interview on CNBC, Singh said the company serves about 18 million customers, a fraction of the estimated 100 million U.S. pet-owning households.

He said he expects to see continued growth as the business pursues greater share in the $100 billion pet supplies market, which is itself expected to increase about 5% annually through 2024.