Briscoe Group to Invest $120 Million in Auckland Warehouse and Distribution Centre

Briscoe Group is set to invest approximately $120 million in a new warehousing and distribution center in Auckland, aiming to have it operational within two years. The retailer, known for homewares and Rebel Sport, has already allocated around $20 million towards a warehouse management system and made a down payment for 30,000 square meters of land in Drury, located on Auckland's southern border.

Managing Director Rod Duke stated that the existing facility has reached its limit, and the new 20,000 square-meter centre will be 2.5 times larger than the current 8,000 square-meter site, with a height that allows for advanced automated warehousing and distribution equipment, supplied by Austria-based Knapp. Duke noted that the Drury location was chosen for its affordability, with land prices significantly lower than those closer to Auckland's city centre.

While the new facility will incorporate automation, it will not be fully automated, and staff numbers are expected to more than double to around 100 employees. The system will feature robots that assist in locating merchandise and streamlining the packing and dispatch processes.

Currently, about 80 percent of Briscoe Group's inventory is held in retail stores, requiring manual handling for customer orders. The new system is designed to optimize inventory management, ensuring that stores are stocked with high-demand items, which will be replenished daily. Duke anticipates that this new setup will reduce the time in-store staff spend managing inventory by 20 percent, allowing for enhanced customer service and satisfaction.

The planning for this warehouse and distribution centre has been ongoing for three years, with an expected opening date in early 2026. Duke expressed confidence that the investment would yield significant cost savings and improve product delivery speeds for customers.