National Distribution Center FAQs

Updated 3 days ago ​by Merch Transformation

At Walmart, we aim to deliver more items to customers more quickly and efficiently to continue providing an easy shopping experience. We are adjusting how some suppliers ship directly to eCommerce fulfillment centers (FC) for certain items. Moving forward, those suppliers will ship eligible volume to a national distribution center (NDC). This change will reduce inbound lanes, minimize unhealthy inventory, and provide cost savings to suppliers, Walmart, and our customers.

New NDC Flow (E-Comm Only Items)

• Import items flow from vendor -> Import DC (IDC 7078) -> NDC 6069 (breakpack capable) -> FCs.
• Domestic items flow from vendor -> NDC 6069 -> FCs. If they don't route through NDC, they will ship direct to FCs.
• This flow path is for e-commerce-only items (at the Walmart Item Number level not the UPC), not store-shared inventory.

What are the benefits?

The NDC will receive your shipments and leverage the Walmart Supply Chain distribution to move items to each FC. Some suppliers’ cost savings and benefits include: 

• Shipment Aggregation: Suppliers can consolidate shipments, potentially achieving full truckloads or reducing the number of lanes into the Walmart network. 
• FC Order Minimum Sharing: The new Walmart NDC strategy will improve supplier order minimums by consolidating orders across multiple FCs through the NDC. 
• Expanded FC Placement Opportunities: Flowing all items through the NDC creates potential opportunities to grow FC placement, enhancing overall distribution efficiency and sales potential. 

FAQs

1. What is changing for me as a supplier?​

The shipping destination will change to the NDC (6069) in St James, MO (1100 Matlock Dr., St James, MO 65559). Dun and Bradstreet Number (DUNS: 0519577696691) and Global Location Number (GLN: 0078742033587). Direct to FC lanes will be eliminated.

2. Why is Walmart using a National Distribution Center (NDC)?​

Walmart is expanding its FC assortment, which requires a reduction in FC inventory. The NDC will allow for a decrease in total units stored in each FC while improving in-stock levels and aggregating inbound shipments from suppliers. ​

3. If I have concerns, who should I reach out to?​

You should reach out to your Walmart merchant or replenishment manager with any concerns or escalations.

4. Will all items have a new Walmart Item Number (WIN) created?​

Only qualified items will have a new WIN created with an updated warehouse pack quantity. ​For some items, a new WIN will be centrally created for breakpack configuration and will be connected to the sellable GTIN. Ensure these items are mapped in your EDI.

5. Should I change the packaging based on the new WIN configuration?

No. You can ship the item in the same packaging as you do today. ​

6. Will the PO type change for items on the NDC program?

Yes. For replenishable items, you will see a type 33 crossdock PO to 6069. The event code will be ONLINEREPL.

7. Can I see which FC locations are on the PO.

Yes. In NOVA you will see FC store IDs on the PO distribution. The store numbers are different from the FC DC IDs you may may have shipped to in the past. Please use the table below to cross reference the FC DC ID and FC Store ID.

FC DC and Store Number Match

8. Will store shared items be eligible for the NDC?

No. Walmart Item Numbers (WIN) in stores will not be eligible. For some UPCs, there may be a store configured WIN and ecomm configured WIN. The ecomm configured WIN is eligible for the program.

9. How can I identify a PO with NDC items?

NDC items will create on their own separate POs with the event code of ONLINEREPL.

How did we do?

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