S&S (asi/84358) is headed west.

The Counselor Top 40 supplier has announced plans to open a 500,000-square-foot distribution center near Phoenix, AZ, in late summer 2027. S&S says the move will increase capacity and support continued growth by positioning inventory closer to customers in the West and Southwest in the U.S.

The Phoenix facility will also feature advanced goods-to-person automation that S&S says will bring products directly to team members and increase the speed and efficiency of order fulfillment. It will incorporate S&S’s proprietary ZeroTouch technology, which uses box- and garment-level QR codes to streamline order fulfillment.

“We’re excited to establish a presence in the Phoenix area and invest in a region that is increasingly important to our business,” said Frank Myers, CEO of S&S and a member of the Counselor Power 50. “As our customers find new ways to move their businesses forward, we must keep evolving alongside them. This facility will help us better support our current customers, reach new ones and build on the strong momentum we’ve created across our distribution network.”

The announcement comes after the Bolingbrook, IL-based supplier invested more than $200 million in distribution automation. In June, S&S Canada (asi/90703) announced plans to move to a larger facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, more than doubling its footprint in the region. Expected to become operational in the fourth quarter this year, the new facility will add an estimated 20,000 pick locations, introduce autonomous mobile robots and support an estimated $50 million investment in inventory to better serve customers across Western Canada, S&S said.

“This is about building a stronger network for what comes next,” S&S Chief Operating Officer Josh Clark said. “We will continue investing in the inventory, capacity and technology that help our customers grow and operate more efficiently.”

Founded in 1988, S&S ranks second on Counselor’s most recent list of largest suppliers in the industry based on North American promotional products revenue of $3.5 billion. In June, the company announced a new brand identity, dropping “Activewear” from its name to more accurately reflect the wide range of products and services it offers.