Ruakura Superhub attracts FMCG giants
The 49ha Ruakura Superhub is one of New Zealand’s largest multiuse developments. Anchored by the Ruakura Inland Port, its location at the nexus of the “golden triangle” between Auckland and Tauranga is making it an attractive location for transport companies seeking transitional facilities.
In the past month, Big Chill Distribution opened a purposebuilt cool-store facility in the hub, while Refrigerfreighters announced its first Waikato depot at the Ruakura Superhub.
Big Chill Distribution’s 32,200m2 facility will hold up to 16,500 pallets of chilled and frozen food ready for distribution to retail and food service businesses by Big Chill’s network of 180 temperaturecontrolled trucks and trailers.
Big Chill was acquired by listed company Freightways in 2020, and the new facility is the second investment the business has made to scale up Big Chill’s operations in the national delivery and 3PL and 4PL space.
“We’ve been able to increase our warehousing capacity by 30% at Ruakura and can now increase same-day and overnight delivery services. We chose the site for its location and increased access to a comprehensive network of road and rail,” Big Chill general manager Phil Clarke said.
“We expect to move an average of 68 20-foot containers per week via rail alone. The supersite has created a high level of interest for businesses that service the chilled and frozen food sector,” said Clarke.
Refrigerfreighters’ 1000m2 facility will include fridge and freezer space and accompanying office space. The building is specified to a Greenstar 4 rating. Facility design build is underway with main contractor, Calder Stewart Construction, targeting completion and readiness to operate in the last quarter of 2024.
The facility includes four truck docks and extra parking on a 5000m2 lot, providing plenty of growing room for its starting fleet of seven new delivery trucks.
All trucks based here will serve the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, with further operational support from the existing RFF network.
“The dynamic of Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton as an economic growth engine for New Zealand pointed towards Ruakura as the best location for Refrigafreighters’ next depot,” said the company’s chief executive Michael Roberts.