Woolworths opens hi-tech Canty distribution centre
Woolworths NZ has opened its $99 million fresh produce distribution near Christchurch.
The 11,000m₂ site in Rolleston opened last week and has been under development for five years. It will service all Woolworths and Countdown South Island stores.
Under construction over the past two years, the hi-tech centre utilises technology such as robotics and features a temperature-controlled inbound truck tunnel and different temperature zones for storing different produce. It also has a banana ripening facility.
It is a slightly smaller replica of the supermarket operator’s Auckland fresh produce facility that opened in Wiri about two years ago.
Woolworths general manager of fruit and vegetables Ryan McMullen said the technology allowed fresh fruit and vegetables to be kept at optimal temperatures throughout the supply chain, and was a significant investment for the Australian-listed retail firm.
The centre is a partnership with Hoskyns Road and has created 65 new jobs.
McMullen said some new technology and elements of the facility that would be turned on in the centre with time. It officially opened for use last Friday.
“We are opening the operational part of the building first, which sees us moving domestic fruit and vegetables through to all of our South Island stores, and in a sequenced process after that we’ll turn on our pack house facility and our banana ripening facility and our imports will come in, in due course.,” he said.
“This is a massive step change for our business. This facility, like our Auckland facility, is leading-edge technology and in location, allowing us to bring what our growers grow for us into our facility and fresh into our stores every day.”
McMullen said produce from orchards and farms would be repalletised through the facility for same-day delivery to Woolworths stores for fresher produce. “That is sort of not what happens within the fruit and veg industry in New Zealand now, because the facilities don’t exist in every part to do that from a distribution centre like we’ve put on the ground in Christchurch.”
Woolworths operates four other distribution centres around the country and three online-only dark stores. It has until recently traded under the Countdown brand is in the process of rebranding all 191 Countdown stores to Woolworths.