Countdown unveils new Christchurch Regional Distribution Centre

by Press Release on 2012-07-10 03:12:13

10 July 2012: Countdown will officially open the new Christchurch Regional Distribution Centre (CRDC) extension at Hornby tomorrow, with Prime Minister John Key cutting the ribbon on the 29,000 sqm facility.

Located at 146 Shands Road, Hornby, the CRDC will service up to 7,800 product lines to more than 68 Countdown, Super Value and Fresh Choice stores across the South Island.

Countdown Managing Director Dave Chambers said the new CRDC would further grow the company’s logistics network.

“The Christchurch Regional Distribution Centre will improve the operational effectiveness of our supply chain, and represents a significant investment in the Canterbury region,” Mr Chambers said.

“We are looking at the long-term needs of our business, and the CRDC will help serve our customers and suppliers more efficiently,” he said.

The new CRDC was built from an existing Countdown distribution centre, and consists of a 22,000 sqm warehouse and 7,000 sqm receiving and dispatching canopy.

The $20 million construction and fit-out programme for the extension of the CRDC started in early October 2011 and was completed in June 2012. The existing warehouse space was significantly affected by the September 2010 Christchurch earthquake, with extensive damage to racking systems that were rebuilt prior to the February 2011 earthquake. With this in mind, the construction of the 7,000 sqm extension included a significant investment in 1.8 km of racking specially designed to withstand major earthquakes.

Mr Chambers said the facility also features a number of environmental sustainability initiatives designed to reduce power consumption.

“The site is considered to be one the most energy efficient Distribution Centres in New Zealand thanks to the use of motion sensor-controlled LED high bay lighting, a technology first not only for our business, but nationwide,” Mr Chambers said.