Drakes' new distribution centre

One of Australia's largest independent grocery retailers will build an $80 million distribution centre in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

The Drakes Distribution Centre, which has received planning consent from the City of Playford and is fully funded by the South Australian family-owned business, will be located on a 17 hectare site at Edinburgh North.

The distribution and logistics centre will incorporate more than $12 million worth of robotics as part of a high-tech warehouse picking system.

Approximately 300 jobs are expected to be created during construction, with a further 120 - 250 ongoing full-time equivalent positions when the centre opens. It is expected to be operational by June 2019.

Started in Adelaide in 1974, Drakes Supermarkets now has more than 50 stores across South Australia and Queensland, an annual turnover in excess of $1 billion and 5,500 staff nationally.

"As a local family-owned business, we are pleased to create so many jobs in the northern suburbs of Adelaide which have faced many challenges in recent years," says Drakes general manager Bob Soang.

Drakes Supermarkets will continue to operate its fresh fruit and vegetable distribution centre at Pooraka and its meat distribution centre at Beverley.