Foodstuffs North Island, the 100% New Zealand owned and operated co-operative behind PAK’nSAVE, New World and Four Square has opened a new cross dock and depot facility in Grenada, Wellington. The new state-of-the-art, multi temperature facility is designed specifically for the supply and distribution of groceries and will modernise the way groceries and other essentials are distributed across the Wellington region.
The new $21 million dollar facility is the third new regional transport depot to be opened by the co-operative in the last 14 months, following new sites in Whangārei and Hastings, and is equipped with dedicated docks for loading and unloading, which allows for up to six trucks to be loaded simultaneously, meaning more on-time deliveries for stores in the Wellington region.
With 3,250m2 of buildings, the equivalent to half a rugby field, set on an 8,775 square metre site, the Grenada Transport & Milk Depot will maintain cool chain integrity and provide best-in-class quality food distribution and supply chain service in the region.
The facility will serve as a vital hub for receiving bulk orders of milk as-well-as chilled, frozen, and produce orders from Foodstuffs North Island’s Palmerston North distribution centres. The new facility will receive these larger orders while teams efficiently breakdown, sort, pick and dispatch final deliveries to individual stores across the Wellington region utilising a fleet of smaller trucks. Regional suppliers will also benefit from being able to use the site for delivering goods destined for Foodstuffs North Island’s larger distribution centres across the North Island.
Chief Executive of Foodstuffs North Island, Chris Quin said: “This new site means we’re going to be able to provide a new level of supply chain excellence to the Wellington region, helping ensure food is distributed efficiently, safely and with the highest levels of quality. This is the third regional facility we’ve opened in the last 14 months, and we’ve got more plans in the pipeline because we’re committed to providing customers right across the North Island with access to the freshest, highest-quality products at the best value, while becoming more efficient and sustainable.”
Key features of the new facility include its capability to collect bulk produce orders directly from local markets and sort them in a temperature-controlled environment using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. This innovative approach will not only streamline operations but also ensure the highest level of product temperature integrity.
The new site will enable Foodstuffs North Island to handle more freight than ever before, while providing capacity to support the growth of the Wellington region and to service future stores. Team safety will also improve through having a purpose-built facility designed to the highest standards. The new site also has sustainability benefits with more efficient CO2 refrigeration, the latest LED automated lighting and the ability to charge electric trucks and cars on site.
The new Grenada Transport & Milk Depot is a forward-thinking facility that meets Foodstuffs North Island’s demands of today, while anticipating the needs of tomorrow. The investment reflects Foodstuffs North Island’s ongoing commitment to customer service, community growth, and embracing sustainable practices in every aspect of its operations.
FAST FACTS
• The new facility is a $21 million dollar investment in the region
• New state-of-the-art facility will modernise the way the co-op distributes groceries across the Wellington region
• New site is an investment in best practice and will see the co-op provide greater levels of safety, service and quality
• 3,250m2 of buildings set on 8,775m2 site
• 6 truck bays for simultaneous loading
• Will employ around 30 people
• The third regional transport depot opened by the co-operative in 14 months
