Woolworths has opened its new Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) in Western Sydney, joining the company’s National Distribution Centre (NDC) at the Moorebank Logistics Precinct, which was completed in November 2024.
The $1.3 billion precinct is Woolworths’ largest single investment, with the new facilities covering 75,000 square metres of floor space, and set to move over five million cartons per week to supermarkets, supported by electric prime movers supplied by Toll Group.
With the supply chain under pressure, the two new distribution centres (DCs) will take 26,000 truck movements off Australian roads each year – having direct links to Port Botany, interstate rail and Sydney’s M5 and M7 motorways.
The automated DCs will move food, grocery and everyday items onto shelves faster, using Relex Solutions technology to optimise routine replenishment and inventory allocation tasks and reduce food waste.
Woolworths stated the investment has been a major driver for local employment, creating over 1300 jobs during the construction phase, and will employ around 800 team members in operational roles across the two DCs.
Woolworths Group CEO, Amanda Bardwell, said the investment is about more than just infrastructure – it is critical for the company’s customers, team and future capability.
“Our customers will benefit from better product availability and convenience, particularly in the run up to the busy Christmas season. We know they want to be able to come in store and find what they need quickly and easily,” said Bardwell.
“These new facilities are a game-changer, putting products in stores more efficiently and seamlessly. From weekly specials, to festive favourites, we know we have to have it on shelves or online when customers want it.
“Behind the scenes, this investment delivers a more resilient supply chain, while the automation also significantly reduces heavy manual handling, which makes a real difference to our team members every single day.”
Both DCs have achieved a 5-star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, featuring solar panels that will generate 5.3 megawatts of energy each year – equivalent to 880 households’ annual energy consumption – as well as rainwater harvesting.
