Consumer goods distributor Massmart, has opened its new flagship Riversands distribution centre in Gauteng.

The company announced that it had officially opened its new Massmart Distribution Centre, on June 14.

The 75 000 m2 warehouse is the second of three new facilities in Massmart’s new centralised network which uses shared distribution centres to serve stores across the entire group.

The new state-of-the-art facility has been custom designed to suit Massmart’s needs and will manage the highest volume throughput of all Massmart facilities.

In line with Massmart’s supply chain strategy, the Riversands distribution centre is a product-based distribution centre, specialising in high volume, pallet-based products.

“Over 30% of Massmart stores are based in Gauteng so this facility will give us the opportunity to deliver fast moving products to these stores at greater speed, thanks to the use of full pallets, with no need for repacking inside the facility,” says Massmart COO Jonathan Molapo.

Construction of the facility began in late 2019 consequent to thorough planning and engagement with Walmart regarding optimal designs.

One thing the project team could not have foreseen was the need to fast-track the completion of the facility, to keep stores stocked following the unrest experienced primarily in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021.

“I must acknowledge the our partners on the project – architectural designers R&L Architects and structural engineering service providers EDS Engineers as well as landlords Century Properties.”

Molapo adds that the three supported Massmart throughout, and particularly when the timeline was brought forward by five months.

Sustainability is a core priority in any Massmart facility and the Riversands campus makes maximum use of natural light, energy saving light-emitting diode lights with motion sensors and also uses borehole water for its wash bays and reserve water tanks.

In addition to this, throughout the construction process, the wetlands next to the distribution centre have been preserved in order to support healthy ecosystem functioning and provide a refuge for resident flora and fauna.

He adds that every element of this distribution centre is geared towards improving efficiency.

Massmart, owned by Walmart, comprises two business units operating 408 stores, across 13 sub-Saharan countries.

Through its widely-recognised retail and wholesale formats – including Builders Warehouse, Cambridge Food, Game, Jumbo Cash & Carry, Makro and Shield – it has leading shares in the general merchandise, liquor, home improvement and wholesale food markets.

“From reducing our own energy consumption to the operational efficiency of the high-volume product focus, Riversands will play an important role in getting the right products onto our shelves at the best possible price for customers,” Molapo

concludes.