AUSTRALIA | Woolworths’ new chilled and fresh food distribution hub in Western Sydney has hit a major milestone, with 800 new roles being recruited to operate what will be the biggest refrigerated distribution centre in the Southern Hemisphere.
This Sydney Chilled and Fresh Distribution Centre is a further commitment from Woolworths to providing customers with the best quality Australian fresh.
The AUD 900 million investment has given Woolworths the best automated distribution centre and refrigeration technology anywhere in the world, and will improve the availability of fruit, vegetables and milk and extend the shelf life of fresh products by getting them onto supermarket shelves faster.
Opening in early 2027, the new Distribution Centre complements Woolworths' AUD 1.3 billion investment in new national and regional distribution centres at Moorebank in Western Sydney.
Recruitment for 800 new roles to operate the distribution centre has begun, with women making up 45 percent of hirings so far. More than 4000 jobs were also created during the two-and-a-half-year construction phase.
Woolworths Group CEO Amanda Bardwell said the newest distribution centre will help Woolworths deliver the freshest produce from Australian farmers onto shelves and into customers’ baskets even faster.
“We built this facility to improve the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables in our stores, and keep up with a growing population over the next two decades, so that our customers can rely on us for quality food, when they need it,” said Bardwell.
“I know first-hand that a role at Woolies is rarely just a job - it’s the start of a rewarding career. We’re proud to grow our local team and create 800 new jobs in Western Sydney. While this facility features world-leading technology, it’s our team who will be the beating heart of the operation.”
The facility, which will handle 3000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables a day, is strategically located where the M4 meets the M7 at Eastern Creek to optimise delivery of fresh food and milk to 300 Woolworths stores across Sydney and NSW.
Operated by Woolworths’ supply chain arm, Primary Connect, Sydney Chilled and Fresh Distribution Centre has been built with enough spare capacity to grow volumes over the next 20 years to meet an expanding customer base and growing NSW population.
With construction now complete on the refrigerated second floor, the temperature inside Sydney Chilled and Fresh Distribution Centre will be reduced by two degrees to test technology like automated milk crate packing.
