Coles has opened the first of two automated distribution centres (ADC) in Redbank, Queensland, as part of the supermarket chain’s move to streamline its operations, servicing 219 stores in Queensland and Northern NSW.
When running at full capacity, the Redbank facility can process up to 4 million cases per week, equivalent to an estimated 1.6 billion sales units per year
Coles CEO Steven Cain said the new ADCs could process twice the number of cases and hold twice the number of pallets compared to the current DCs.
“Modernising our operations is how we improve efficiency and availability in our stores and deliver higher service levels for our customers, team members and suppliers,” said Cain.
“The ADCs enable us to half our total footprint, leading to a more productive and sustainable business model.”
He added that more than 90 per cent of cases in the ADCs will be processed fully by automation or ergonomically, which will be a step-change for the team’s safety as it can eliminate nearly 18 million kilograms of manual handling in the supply chain each week.
In addition, the Redbank ADC is equipped with LED and sensor lighting to reduce energy consumption and is fitted with 180,000 litres of harvested rainwater storage for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.
To minimise food waste, the edible food that can’t be sold in the ADC will be donated to Coles’ community partner SecondBite.
Coles Group chairman James Graham thanked the people involved in the project.
“I’m proud of our team, partners and suppliers who’ve worked together for over five years to create this state-of-the-art facility,” he said.
The second ADC is expected to open next year, at Kemps Creek in NSW.
