AUSTRALIA | Woolworths has officially switched on a AUD 20 million high-tech "eStore" in St Marys, doubling online delivery capacity for thousands of families across Western Sydney.
The 2,500 sqm facility is the largest of its kind in the country, merging a traditional supermarket with an automated fulfilment centre to fulfil up to 6,000 orders per week, enabling easier, safer, and more efficient online order fulfilment.
Woolworths has built its online grocery order fulfilment network close to local communities, enabling fast, easy dispatch of online orders and providing greater convenience to customers.
Online orders are fulfilled either wholly from stores, from eStores such as St Marys, or from Customer Fulfilment Centres across the country. More than 95 percent of Australians can access Woolworths delivery, and 85 percent are within a 10-minute drive from a store for collection.
Western Sydney families are busier than ever, with 60 percent of our orders now being fulfilled on the same day they order.
Amitabh Mall, Managing Director for eComX at Woolworths Group, said this AUD 20 million investment allows Woolworths to meet increasing customer demand in Western Sydney for faster delivery of a full grocery shop in under two hours.
“We have the strongest delivery network across Australia with 43 per cent of delivery orders dispatched within two hours of order placement," he said.
St Marys eStore Site Manager, Russell Fatt added that the launch of the St Marys eStore will be a major boost for the local community and jobs.
"We're incredibly proud to create 150 new roles, including welcoming 15 refugees from the area into the team through our partnership with Community Corporate. These jobs provide career opportunities where our newest team members, many in their first job, will be helping us serve the local community," said Fatt.
The eStore uses KNAPP automation technology specifically designed for Woolworths to support high-volume online grocery fulfilment. The automation replaces traditional in store picking from shelves with a streamlined "goods-to-person" system where team members hand select each item.
Items sourced from the automation side of the eStore are combined with items from the supermarket side to ensure customers have access to the full bakery, deli, and frozen range.
The St Marys eStore is the third site of its kind in the Woolworths Australian network, including in Maroochydore, Qld, and Carrum Downs, Vic. The eStores complement seven Customer Fulfilment Centres located in all major eastern cities.
