Countdown says it will build an 11,000sqm Christchurch Fresh Distribution Centre at Rolleston, Canterbury, at a cost of $99 million.

The new DC, scheduled to open early in 2024, will use a purpose-built system to transport fresh produce from cooled trucks to varied temperature-controlled rooms via a tunnel.  

Countdown’s director of property, Matt Grainger, says the investment in the new temperature-controlled centre is ‘critical’ to ensuring locally-grown produce hits shelves just as fresh as it was when it left the orchard, farm or packhouse.

“With this custom-built development, we’re investing in new technology and cutting-edge design to streamline the supply chain. Our growers can take pride in what Kiwis see on the shelves with their produce arriving to store exactly how they intended,” said Grainger.

A cool chain integrity system is the ‘driving factor’ of the new distribution centre’s design as Grainger believes this process will further drastically cut down spoilage and prevent produce from going to waste.

“Food waste is a massive issue in New Zealand and while we can all make changes at a household level, Countdown has the opportunity to make a difference on a much larger scale by optimising our processes and equipment right across the supply chain.”

He said the development of the new Countdown DC is a huge step towards the climate goals of the company as the project features an environmentally friendly design with solar power, rainwater harvesting and low-energy condensers throughout.