Woolworths opens $1.3 billion Moorebank RDC, creating jobs and reducing emissions

Coles in partnership with Toll Group is proud to welcome two new electric prime movers to our grocery delivery network in Western Australia. The Volvo FM battery electric prime movers will replace conventional diesel-powered trucks, saving approximately 100 tonnes of CO2 emissions per vehicle annually and are expected to complete up to 52 deliveries to Coles stores across Perth each week. Ian Kitching, State Transport Manager at Coles, said “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to reduce emissions associated with our transportation network. Welcoming our first electric heavy vehicles to our fleet in Perth is more than just a technological upgrade, it’s a long-term investment in developing a more sustainable supply chain.” #ProudlyColes Matt Swindells | Tony O'Toole | Jo Hammond | David Clark | Ian Kitching | Nick Vrckovski | Thomas Knudsen | Michael Freestone | Wayne Schoenauer | Jorge Moreira | Vaughan Irving

How one regional convenience store chain reduced turnover to 36%: Family Express thinks about labor as an investment rather than a cost, which has led to a more secure environment for workers and better retention. http://dlvr.it/TNsX79

Sainsbury faces a strategic squeeze, needing to balance funding for colleague pay and service improvements while holding market share against discounters and competing with Tesco’s scale.

Food Manufacture are reporting on supermarkets urging the Chancellor to exempt shops from the new business rates surtax. Tesco , Sainsbury's Marks and Spencer , Iceland Foods , Lidl GB , Aldi UK , Waitrose & Partners , Morrisons and Asda signed the letter organised by the British Retail Consortium Read the full article now at https://lnkd.in/eamSDkZC

ALDI plans $1.1B massive distribution hub !! ALDI Foods has lodged a $1.15 billion State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for an automated distribution centre in #Bradfield, Western Sydney. Initial plans suggest the prospective 106,706m² site will operate 24/7 and feature a 119 truck loading docks, infrastructure for refuelling and washing vehicles, and 408 on-site parking spaces for staff, a high-bay warehouse and ancillary offices. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gaMSipAz ALDI Stores Australia Bradfield Development Authority #aerotropolis #westernsydney #logistics #supplychain #jobs

Planning Delays Are Holding Britain Back Today’s Times headline; “Planning delays mean Lidl will miss its target of 1,100 UK stores” captures a much wider issue that continues to constrain the UK economy. Lidl’s experience is not an isolated case; it is symptomatic of a planning system that is slow, inconsistent, and increasingly unfit for purpose. The consequences extend far beyond one retailer. Across housing, infrastructure, energy, and commercial development, the same story repeats: projects delayed, costs escalating, and investment diverted elsewhere. Every delayed planning decision represents lost jobs, stalled regeneration, and diminished confidence from both domestic and international investors. In the housing sector, we see the same paralysis. Local authorities are under-resourced, statutory consultees are overwhelmed, and political risk deters bold decision-making. The result is fewer homes, higher prices, and slower progress on sustainability targets. For the construction industry and its supply chains, the uncertainty translates into weaker pipelines, reduced productivity, and diminished capacity for innovation. A more efficient, transparent, and properly resourced planning system is not simply a technical necessity, it is an economic imperative. If the UK is serious about growth, net zero, and levelling up, reforming planning must be at the very top of the agenda. It is time for government, local authorities, and industry to work together to modernise the system, embracing digitalisation, resourcing planning departments adequately, and reinstating a sense of purpose and confidence in decision-making. Only then can we unlock the investment and delivery needed to build the homes, shops, and communities Britain deserves. #ukhousing #housebuilding #urbanplanning https://lnkd.in/eD-Geg4m

Tesco partners with Be My Eyes Partners to bring accessible support to customers across the UK for World Sight Day https://lnkd.in/ePjZ2Att

The Operational Perspective: In logistics, a hub serves as a central point for consolidating and redistributing goods. This is the foundation of hub-and-spoke networks, a common approach used in supply chains. 1. Inbound flows: Goods arrive from multiple suppliers and producers. 2. Central processing: Sorting, grading, packing, or quality checks. 3. Outbound flows: Goods dispatched to distribution centres and customers. For Produce Hub, this concept encompasses both the physical design (the marketplace or facility) and the strategic function (connecting farms to markets efficiently). Star South Fruits SPAR South Africa ShopRite Woolworths LiebenLogistics

☘️ What's been going on in Irish Retail Ireland’s retail sector navigates cost pressures and consumer caution amid targeted store expansions and renewed investor confidence. 🛒 Store Openings & Investment Aldi Ireland opened its 165th store in Monaghan, investing €14 million and creating 30 jobs — while celebrating its one billionth customer milestone. The new store includes solar panels, EV chargers, bike rails, and self-checkouts as part of its sustainability and omnichannel strategy. 📊 Inflation & Consumer Trends Consumer prices rose 0.9% year-on-year in September, led by food and energy. Core inflation eased to 2.6%, signalling slightly stronger household spending ahead. 💶 Policy & Budget 2026 Retail Ireland warned that the 5% minimum wage rise and unchanged income-tax bands could squeeze both retailers and consumers. Taylor Wessing’s analysis of Budget 2026 pointed to accelerated capital allowances for commercial property investment — a move expected to boost town-centre rejuvenation and mixed-use retail projects. 🏬 Investment & Real Estate Retail real estate investment rose 11% in Q2 2025, with €159 million across eight deals — led by high-street and retail park acquisitions such as the Trinity Collection. 🧾 Retail Innovation Grocery retailers are scaling self-checkouts and electronic shelf labels, while tablet-assisted shopping pilots are being trialled in urban stores to enhance in-store experience. 👗 Fashion & Seasonal Activity Fashion and lifestyle brands are preparing holiday pop-ups on Grafton Street and Patrick Street, using event-driven footfall to test omnichannel fulfilment hubs. 🌍 Sustainability & Regulation Irish supermarkets are accelerating deposit-return and sustainable packaging programmes ahead of new EU Single-Use Plastics directives taking effect in 2026. 🛍️ Company Updates Primark confirmed its Ballymena store will open December 5, adding to Northern Ireland’s high-street momentum. Tesco PLC reported group sales up 5.1% to £33.05bn, with Republic of Ireland sales up 6.5%, driven by store refreshes and online growth, reinforcing its market lead ahead of the festive season. #RetailIreland #CSOIreland #KPMG_Ireland #BusinessPost

Woolworths Group has opened its new Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) in Western Sydney, joining the company’s National Distribution Centre (NDC) at the Moorebank Logistics Precinct, which was completed in November 2024. https://lnkd.in/gi2fK7TH