Huge new distribution centre at airport for Foodstuffs

After 53 years in Mt Roskill, Foodstuffs North Island is moving its primary distribution centre to a new complex at The Landing, Auckland Airport. 

Chief executive Chris Quin says the grocery co-operative is rapidly outgrowing its Roma Rd centre and three Foodstuffs facilities will be consolidated into the new 65,000sq m distribution centre and 5 Greenstar-rated office complex.

Construction starts this year with completion in late 2020 for the New Zealand-owned co-operative.

It operates Pak'nSave, New World, Four Square, Gilmours, Liquorland and Fresh Collective grocery brands.

It will continue to operate two distribution centres and a support centre in Palmerston North and a support centre in Wellington.

However, it is proposing to close its Rotorua distribution centre on Fairy Springs Rd at the end of 2020 and move those operations to the new Auckland centre, Mr Quin says.

If staff can’t find new jobs within the co-op they could face redundancy.

 “In making the decision to build the new distribution centre, we have been looking at options to make the upper North Island operations as efficient as possible and fit for purpose over the next 30 years,” Mr Quin says.

An artist's impression of Foodstuffs' new distribution centre at The Landing.

“Long term, we believe the best option is to support the upper North Island stores with one purpose-built ambient distribution centre.”

“We wanted to share our proposal to close the Rotorua centre with our teams early in the project. If the proposal does go ahead, we feel it would be the right thing to do to give the team lots of notice and time to plan for the change.”

Mr Quin says the co-op is planning significant growth across the business and its success depends on being nimble and efficient. “Key to our success is developing a world-class supply chain."   

Foodstuffs North Island has yet to decide the future of its Roma Rd site and will be working closely with local government, to determine the best use of the land in the interests of Auckland. 

“The Mt Roskill site is now considered almost inner-city – and we’re excited about unlocking this space,” Mr Quin says.

“In the meantime, the co-op will remain at our legendary home in Mt Roskill until the new site is ready in 2020 and then we’ll be packing up and moving out to a bright, new, expansive future at The Landing.”