Woolworths has completed the fitout of its 15,000-square-metre customer fulfilment centre in Sydney’s west, which will be the company’s largest online hub in Australia, and create up to 900 new jobs for personal shoppers.
The multi-million dollar site, completed by Mainbrace Constructions and based in Lidcombe, will allow customers across Sydney to access 20,000 extra delivery windows each week.
The purpose-built facility has wider aisles and more shelf space than a standard supermarket, allowing personal shoppers to handpick orders from around 20,000 products.
Between July and September 2020, Woolworths’ online sales increased by 100 per cent year-on-year, and accounted for eight per cent of total supermarket sales.
“We’re seeing more and more of our customers turn to the ease and convenience of online grocery delivery in western Sydney,” said Woolworths director of eCommerce Anentte Karantoni.
“To keep pace with demand, we’re investing in new online infrastructure to offer our customers more delivery windows and an even more reliable service. This is particularly important as we head into Christmas, when customers are busy and looking for ways to reclaim time with their loved ones.
“We’re delighted to welcome hundreds of new personal shoppers to Woolworths at our Lidcombe CFC. It’s a great example of retail innovation driving jobs growth in New South Wales.”
New South Wales Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said he was delighted to have the new Woolworths online grocery hub based in the region.
“The NSW Government is focused on driving private sector job creation as a critical part of our COVID-19 recovery strategy. This site is a terrific example, which will deliver a welcome boost to local employment with 900 new jobs in the heart of western Sydney,” said Ayres.
“It's been an incredibly challenging year for supermarkets amid the global pandemic. As a government, we've focused on providing flexibility with curfews and trading hours to help supermarkets meet the essential needs of the community.”
