Foodstuffs South Island is making a major leap in frozen food logistics with a $28 million investment in New Zealand’s first fully automated supermarket freezer, currently under construction at its Hornby Distribution Centre in Christchurch.

The -22°C facility will significantly increase frozen storage capacity, from 2800 to 9040 pallet spaces, a 222 per cent boost, and is designed to meet rising demand across the region.

Equipped with features including an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), hypoxic fire prevention, and 340 solar panels, the freezer blends automation with sustainability. It will also include eight levels of high-density racking, two Italian-made automated cranes, and picking and staging zones to enhance operational efficiency.

As demand for frozen goods intensifies, the facility is set to become a key asset in the co-operative’s supply chain.

“This project is about more than adding storage space, it’s about future-proofing our supply chain so we can deliver for all South Island communities for years to come,” said GM of supply chain at Foodstuffs South Island, Kris Lancaster. 

“We’re building a safer, smarter and more sustainable distribution centre that will help us keep pace with demand, reduce emissions, and support our stores and suppliers right across the South Island.” 

Construction began in March last year, and the facility is scheduled to open in August. The project is being delivered in partnership with Apollo Projects and PHS Innovate.