Foodstuffs North Island has announced that it is extending its Fresh Distribution Centre in Mangere.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Pavilion Drive site last Friday to mark the beginning of the project.
Foodstuffs North Island Chief Executive Chris Quin invited the Fresh Distribution Centre staff to join the project team on site and celebrate the event.
The land was blessed by Pastor Matthew Davidson before Quin turned the first sod.
“We want to go bigger and do more from this site, with the excellent team we have here,” said Quin. “The work we do here is really important to our success, because fresh produce is so important to our customers.”
The 6770sqm extension to the existing site will include 11 new docks.
“It’s an investment in our future and ensures we have the appropriate capacity beyond 2030,” says Foodstuffs North Island’s GM Supply Chain, Vaughan Grant.
The extension will be 79 metres long, 84 metres wide and 12 metres high at its apex.
“We are reconfiguring the building, and it will feature three temperature zones, set at 2 degrees, 8 degrees and 12 degrees Celsius. We’re significantly increasing the size of the 2-degree room, which allows space for more refrigerated fresh products such as cut fruit and seafood,” says Grant. “Our Fresh DC is a critical part of our supply chain network. High quality fresh produce gives our stores a competitive advantage and is a strategic growth area for our business.”
A range of environmental features will be included in the extension.
“We are introducing rainwater harvesting facilities and improved refrigeration efficiency, with variable speed drives. We’re also continuing with LED lighting throughout,” says Grant.
Foodstuffs North Island is also improving the overall layout of the site, with better entrances and exits for staff and trucks.
“We’re introducing a new best-in-class dock design which our truck drivers will appreciate. It’s much simpler to use. We’re also introducing opportunity charging for forklifts and other equipment, so that they can charge in their parking spaces,” says Grant.
The Fresh Extension Project is part of Foodstuffs North Island’s Supply Chain Transformation Programme. It is being carried out by Apollo Projects Limited and is due to be completed in September 2018.
