Officials during the opening of the new Retail Center of Excellence. Credit: UL Solutions/PRNewswire.

Global applied safety science company UL Solutions has opened its new Retail Center of Excellence in Lowell, Arkansas, US.  

The facility represents the company’s largest investment in the retail and consumer products sector, aiming to assist customers in fulfilling requirements related to product safety, quality, performance and sustainability. 

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Located 12 miles south of Bentonville, the 100,000ft² advanced testing laboratory will focus on serving retail industry customers in North America. Plans for the facility were first announced in July 2023. 

The facility features a consumer product testing laboratory, a technical support centre and the Product Experience Center, which is among the first in retail testing to study consumer insights before production. 

The Retail Center of Excellence was created specifically for private-label product testing and technical support services. 

It replaces an existing hardlines laboratory in Rogers, Arkansas, and expands local laboratory and technical support capabilities.  

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

It also serves as the headquarters for UL Solutions’ global network of high-tech retail and consumer products laboratories, which includes a 60,000ft² softlines laboratory in Bentonville. 

The facility includes space for future expansion and additional capabilities. 

UL Solutions retail and consumer products vice-president and general manager Josh Warren said: “The Retail Center of Excellence is a result of understanding the needs of the industry through data and ongoing collaboration with major retailers, consumer product brands and their supply chain partners.  

“Inside this facility, UL Solutions subject matter experts will help navigate through customer challenges and bring safety, sustainability, quality and performance to the forefront of the product development process.”