Chick‑fil‑A is parking some serious money on the South Plains, with plans for a $50 million distribution center in Lubbock that the company says will create about 80 jobs and feed restaurants across the region. The facility is slated to rise near Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, with construction expected to kick off in May. Company leaders are pitching the project as a long‑term play to tighten up local supply lines while adding higher‑paying logistics jobs to the area.
In a news release covered by FOX 4 Dallas‑Fort Worth, Chick‑fil‑A said the Lubbock hub will handle food and related products for restaurants across the region. Jobs at the center are projected to average about $60,000 a year over the next ten years. The company put the investment at roughly $50 million, estimated about 80 roles tied to the facility, and confirmed that construction is set to begin in May. Dan Marques, senior director of Chick‑fil‑A Supply Operations, said Lubbock provides access to quality talent and strategic advantages that will help the company better serve owner‑operators in the area.
Pay and local impact
The pay level Chick‑fil‑A is talking about, around $60,000 a year on average, would stand out in Lubbock. Median household income in central parts of the city sits at roughly $51,200, according to Data USA. That gap suggests the new positions could offer a bump up from many entry‑level food‑service and retail jobs, potentially making supply‑chain and logistics work more appealing to local job seekers. Economic developers frequently point to projects like this as a way to broaden and raise wage opportunities in West Texas.
Part of a broader supply push
The Lubbock project is not a one‑off. Chick‑fil‑A has been steadily growing its own distribution network, building out larger regional hubs to improve speed and reliability. For comparison, CSX recently covered the groundbreaking for a more‑than‑$150 million Chick‑fil‑A logistics center in Winter Haven, Florida, and the Kentucky Cabinet highlighted a $100 million Chick‑fil‑A Supply project announced last year in Kenton County. Together, those investments reflect a strategy of placing sizable, capital‑intensive facilities where they can support dozens or even hundreds of restaurants across multiple states.
What local leaders say
Mayor Mark McBrayer welcomed the move, calling it a win for local families. “This investment will create long-term opportunities for families across our great community,” he said, according to FOX 4 Dallas‑Fort Worth. Chick‑fil‑A has described the Lubbock site as a strategic match for both its owner‑operators and the company’s regional logistics needs…