WoolworthsRegionalDistributionCentreExpansion

Hutchies is excited to have worked with our longtime client Woolworths on the expansion of their Adelaide Regional Distribution Centre (ARDC). The facility distributes items for the Woolworths Group to supermarkets across Southern Australia and the Northern Territory. 

The expansion future proofs the facility for the next 20 years and brings the ARDC to a total of 94,000 square metres across three freestanding warehouses. The works included the construction of a new 1500 square metre Returns Transfer Warehouse and extensions to the two existing ambient and temperature controlled warehouses, which includes three separate temperature zones set at 2, 7 and 13 degrees. The increased capacity gives Woolworths the ability to significantly strengthen their supply chain, resulting in faster and fresher deliveries. 

To support Woolworths’ drive towards a green future, Hutchies installed 3,500 solar panels (1.6MVa SYSTEM) across the rooftop of the warehouses. The $2.5 million installation is the largest in the Adelaide and across Woolworths’ Australian Network. It is expected that the solar panels will provide around one-fifth of the centre’s energy needs, and produce enough green energy to power the equivalent of 300 homes.

As another green initiative, the ARDC recycling facility was also expanded as part of the project, giving Woolworths the ability to further reduce plastics and cupboard within their supply chain.

This major project was undertaken whilst the ARDC remained operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To ensure minimal disruptions to workers and Woolworths’ distribution Hutchies completed the works over seven separable stages, each with different handover dates.

Throughout the tendering process, Hutchies offered various value management options for the client through bringing in an external structural engineers to redesign the structure of the centres floor area and walls, saving our client time and money.