Kimberly-Clark (K-C) is to invest over $2bn in the next five years in its North America business, a move it said is its largest domestic expansion in more than 30 years.
Expected to create over 900 jobs, the investment will enhance K-C’s US manufacturing capacity, accelerate its innovation plans, and support its growth targets.
It will centre on two projects: an advanced manufacturing facility nased in Warren, Ohio, and the expansion of its Beech Island, South Carolina, site with a state-of-the-art automated distribution centre.
It also includes additional capital expenditure for innovation and automation upgrades across the company’s North America supply chain network.
The company has also announced that Russ Torres – previously K-C North America’s Group President – has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.
Regarding the $2bn investment in its North American facilities, Torres said: “This landmark investment represents a strategic bet on the American consumer and our ability to drive innovation-led sustainable growth for Kimberly-Clark.”
“It reflects the confidence we have in our long-term growth plans and complements a broad range of commercial and R&D investments we have been making throughout the business as part of our Powering Care transformation journey.”
Spread across more than a million square feet, the company said the Warren, Ohio-based facility will “provide the capacity needed to unleash future growth for K-C’s fastest growing personal care categories.”
It added that the new Regional Distribution Centre (DC) in Beech Island, South Carolina, which is located next to K-C’s largest manufacturing facility, will “create the infrastructure necessary to support future scale and unlock network efficiencies.”
It will use advanced robotics, AI-powered logistics systems, and high-density automated storage to “dramatically improve operational efficiencies and fast-track speed to market.”
The announcement comes one year after K-C launched its company-wide transformation initiative.
Construction for both facilities is scheduled to begin in May 2025 and expected to be completed over the next two to three years.
Following his promotion, Torres added: “There is incredible potential still to be unlocked at Kimberly-Clark, and I look forward to working with our teams around the world to continue to execute on Powering Care, build on the power of our brands across the mega categories we serve and usher in the next chapter of growth.”
