by Fred Afflerbach | Business Writer
Published: July 13, 2010

 Loaded with groceries and other dry goods for points east, west, north and south, the big rigs begin rolling today from the new Temple H-E-B distribution center.

The 450,000-square-foot dry-grocery facility sits on 168 acres in northwest Temple, atop a small hill in the Rail Park at Central Pointe Industrial Park. Temple is a key location because the 105-year-old grocer now ships from San Antonio. Having a distribution point 120 miles north saves fuel and cuts trip time to destinations north of Austin.

With room for growth, the workforce of 200 could expand to 1,000 several years from now. The Temple location will begin with a fleet of 50 tractor-trailer rigs.

Eleven Texas metro areas experienced positive employment growth rates from February 2008 to February 2009 while 12 metro areas experienced net job losses. Petroplexes Odessa and Midland ranked first and second in job creation followed by Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood, Tyler, and College Station–Bryan.

HEB grocery has purchased more than 160 acres in Temple to build a 400,000-square-foot distribution center that will employ about 100 workers.