Woolworths expands eCommerce network with new online fulfilment centre

Woolworths has unveiled plans to construct a new online customer fulfilment centre in Caringbah, NSW, which is expected to open by late 2022.

The development application for the 7,200sqm new facility has been lodged with the Sutherland Shire Council this week.

Woolworths’ digital arm, WooliesX, said in a LinkedIn post that the new CFC is needed to keep pace with customer expectations and demand.

“If approved, the CFC would offer customers spanning from Kurnell to Engadine access to more than 15,000 extra home delivery and direct to boot pick up windows each week, including many on a same day basis,” WooliesX said.

The online fulfilment centre will also support up to 400 full-time equivalent roles and around 250 jobs during construction.

The plans come as Woolworths reported eCommerce sales growth of 92 per cent from July to December 2020, with the growth now accounting for around eight percent of total sales.

Woolworths Director of eCommerce Annette Karantoni said that they are seeing more their customers turn to turn to online grocery delivery in the Shire.

“To keep pace with customer expectations, we’re planning to open a new customer fulfilment centre in Caringbah to offer more delivery windows and an even more reliable service to our online shoppers,” Karantoni said.

In a Woolworths first, she said the fulfilment centre will also offer dedicated pick up bays with a direct to boot service for customers who prefer to collect online orders themselves.

Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to commence in early 2022.

The purpose-built facility will have wider aisles and more shelf space than a supermarket, allowing personal shoppers to handpick orders from a range of around 20,000 products.

The Caringbah CFC proposal is the next step in Woolworths’ NSW eCommerce network development. The company’s existing CFCs are located in Mascot, Brookvale and Lidcombe, with a further automated site planned for Auburn.

Source: Woolworths Group