Foodstuffs South Island has announced it has begun work on a new 28,551 sqm temperature controlled distribution centre in Hornby.
The first stage is expected to be complete by August 2018, with a final completion date of March 2019.
Foodstuffs purchased the site in 2010 and began planning for ‘Project Chilly Bin’ in 2014.
“Our existing temperature controlled facility is struggling to keep up with demand – particularly in peak trading periods,” Foodstuffs South Island CEO Steve Anderson says.
“This new facility will increase our chiller capacity by 100 percent and our freezer capacity by 50 percent. For customers, that means we’ll be able to offer an expanded range of products. For our stores, it means they’ll get those products delivered daily – seven days a week. We’re investing in range and supply chain so that we can get products out to stores even faster,” he says. “After the recent expansion of our ambient distribution centre, this is the next logical progression for our supply chain in the South Island.
“We’ll be able to sell a wider range of fresh products – that includes produce, seafood and meat. We’re investing in the South and making sure our customers are getting the freshest product possible.”
In 1999, Foodstuffs South Island purchased an existing chilled facility and adjacent land in Hornby, from the NZ Apple and Pear Board. Today, Foodstuffs South Island has 14,500 sqm of temperature controlled capacity over two sites – 10,500 sqm of chiller space and 4000sqm of freezer space at Hornby and a further 1500sqm of chilled space in Carmen Road.
“The existing three chiller rooms at Hornby will be demolished and will make way for a new carparking area. The 4000 sqm of existing freezer space will remain alongside the 24,551 sqm of new construction.
“It will be an interesting logistical challenge, keeping our Hornby distribution centre operating effectively while the construction work goes on. Delivery vehicle access will be a little tight at times – but it will all be well worth it in the long run,” he says.
“This will be one of the biggest distribution centres in the country and will have some world class features. It will have four large chiller chambers and 16 dock doors. The design includes two 1000Kva generators that could keep the chilled and frozen areas running in the event of a power failure.
“We will be using a truck docking system developed in Belgium and widely used in warehouses throughout Europe and the USA. The site will have its own truck wash, weighbridge, automated pallet wrappers, fast-charging facility for forklift batteries and smart lighting.
“To get to this point, we’ve analysed what our future volumes and capacity requirements are likely to be. We’ve taken guidance from industry consultants and have visited other chiller and freezer operations, to understand best practice.
“We have allowed space for our business to grow. In the short term, that means we can offer a logistics service to our suppliers, who want to use our space to store their excess product, and save on transport costs. Hornby is very much the distribution hub of the South Island, due to its proximity to the State Highways, the new Southern Motorway project and the Port of Lyttleton,” Mr Anderson says.
“We’re really looking forward to offering an improved working environment for our suppliers and staff, as well as an expanded product range to our customers through our New World, PAK’nSAVE, Four Square, Raeward Fresh and Trents brands.”
