The Metcash Distribution Centre in Huntingwood, New South Wales, Australia was awarded the President’s Cup Award at the IGA International Awards of Excellence, which took place in Las Vegas on Sunday, February 11.
The President’s Cup is awarded to the IGA Global Logistics Distribution Centre globally and/or master franchisee that has “shown true leadership and innovation in membership growth and development, operational excellence and assessment rating, IGA brand product support, IGA brand image support and IGA alliance support”.
The Distribution Centre building, servicing in excess of 600 IGA Customers, was rendered completely inoperable following a devastating hailstorm that caused a roof collapse and distorted the building’s frame. The building required extensive repairs, with the completion of the recommissioning occurring some 14 months later.
Immediately following the hailstorm event, the operations team instigated interstate supply solutions from Queensland and Victoria before establishing and running four local, separate satellite warehouse operations. Satellite warehouse commissioning required, the warehouses to be fitted-out (racking, CCTV, IT communications), transport routes reconfigured, large-scale temporary workforces engaged and partnership with our Vendor partners to reposition stock.
Linda Venables, Chief Logistics Officer, Food & Liquor says, “We are immensely proud of the collaborative efforts of the NSW State and Logistics Teams in supporting our Independent Retailers and delighted their dedication and diligence in running the interim solutions and restoring Distribution Centre operations has been recognised by IGA globally.
The leadership and team focus on working safety resulted in the best safety outcomes across the Australian mega-DCs for the third year in a row, a terrific outcome given the additional risks and complexity encountered when transitioning operations.
Since re-opening, the Distribution Centre has been awarded the ‘SMART’ supply chain and logistics award for ‘Excellence in Event, Humanitarian or Military logistics’ and named winner of the 2017 Australian Insurer National risk award for property maintenance; Vero RM Advancer is Australia’s premier risk management award and was awarded in recognition of the systems, processes and activities undertaken to minimise loss and damage arising from property management.