Alcoholic beverage giant Diageo has unveiled a brand new $21.5 million warehouse at its bottling site in Huntingwood in Sydney’s western suburbs this week.
The capacity of the warehouse is 26,000 pallets - the equivalent of 22 million bottles of Bundaberg Rum, the company says.
“Every year Diageo Australia produces close to 100 million litres of our world famous brands in Australia,” Diageo Australia supply director, Joe Russo said.
“While the tax environment in Australia sometimes makes it difficult to compete on a level playing field, we are committed to investing in our supply footprint for as long as it is sustainable to do so,” he said.
Prior to building the new warehouse, Diageo stored most of its inventory at a third party facility. Diageo Australia said the close proximity of the warehouse will see it reduce its carbon emissions by 110 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually - the equivalent of taking 35 standard passenger vehicles off the road every year.
This carbon reduction will contribute to Diageo’s 2020 target of reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions from direct operations by 50 per cent, plus 30 per cent across its total supply chain, the company said.
The warehouse was officially opened this week by Diageo’s Global head of supply, David Cutter at a special event.
Cutter said Diageo’s recently announced 2020 sustainability and responsibility targets reflect the need to better manage water stewardship and carbon emissions across Diageo’s total supply chain.
“This forward thinking, holistic approach to sustainability means that we will work even harder with suppliers globally to decouple the growth of our business from our impact on the environment,” Cutter said.
“The process efficiencies and reduction in carbon emissions achieved through this new site is one of many steps we are taking here in Australia to meet this ambitious global goal.”
The warehouse build, which commenced in May 2014, spans 5,000m2, and features 30 metre-high Colby pallet racking from Dematic.
The warehouse system also features six new Dematic RapidStore 1224 Storage Retrieval Machines (SRMs) and pallet conveyors, as well as a new paperless warehouse management system.
Project suppliers Paperless Warehouse Management Systems, Dematic and Vaughan Construction attended the opening.
Diago’s spirits, beer and wine brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
