Woolworths will use Dematic's iQ Warehouse Management System

Dematic has been selected by Primary Connect - the supply chain arm of Australia's largest supermarket, Woolworths Group - to supply a state-of-the-art automated fulfilment system for the new National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Moorebank Logistics Park, Sydney.

"Our local capability with over 600 employees and a manufacturing facility in Belrose, Sydney ensures we continue to provide quality service and systems to our customers," says Michael Jerogin, CEO of Dematic APAC. "We are very proud to be a trusted partner of Woolworths and thrilled to be building on this partnership by playing a key role in Woolworths' automation strategy."

The Dematic solution for the new NDC will build store-friendly pallets for Woolworths' retail stores. The Flexible Mixed Case Order Fulfilment system, powered by the Dematic iQ Warehouse Management System (WMS), will handle 9,000+ products from 900 suppliers, delivering daily to over 1,000 stores nationally.

The 40,700 sqm Moorebank NDC is planned to feature wall-to-wall automation, providing the flexibility to cater for seasonal and other peaks in demand, such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is designed to deliver store orders, catering for Woolworth's expected growth with built-in scalability and modularity.

The transport advantages alone are expected to provide benefits to Woolworths, helping to remove at least 26,000 truck movements between Woolworths facilities from New South Wales roads annually.

"The investment at Moorebank is designed to transform the way we serve our stores, strengthen our network and deliver on our ambition to create Australia's best food and grocery supply chain," says Paul Graham, Primary Connect managing director and Woolworths Group chief supply chain officer.

"We expect the new facilities to also help us progress our localised ranging efforts, with the ability to hold thousands of additional products centrally than we can in our existing facilities."