670,000 sq. ft, state-of-the-art Brampton facility is setting the brand new normal for pet specialty distribution capabilities in Canada
MARKHAM, ON, Sept. 13, 2023 /CNW/ – Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. (“Pet Valu” or “the Company”) (TSX: PET), the main Canadian specialty retailer of pet meals and pet-related provides, introduced at present the official opening of its state-of-the-art 670,000 sq. ft. distribution centre in Brampton, Ontario (“GTA DC” or “the Facility”). Representing a key milestone within the Company’s nationwide $110 million provide chain transformation, the GTA DC will deliver unprecedented scale and automation to Canada’s pet sector as the most important distribution centre and robotics automation set up devoted to serving the pet specialty business.
“Today marks a major accomplishment for our groups, whose meticulous planning and tireless efforts have enabled Pet Valu to take an enormous step in the direction of building Canada’s strongest pet specialty distribution community” says Richard Maltsbarger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pet Valu. “As the most important pet specialty facility in Canada, our GTA DC will profit a number of features of our business by means of capability to assist future progress, efficiencies to speed up pace to prospects, tailor-made services to assist workers, and job creation to assist the communities we serve. We look ahead to enhancing distribution companies to our company and franchised shops in Central and Eastern Canada, together with into our Chico banner in Quebec.”
Built by Orlando Corporation, Canada’s largest privately-owned industrial actual property developer and landlord, the GTA DC is roughly the dimensions of 11 soccer fields and can deliver as much as 500 expert jobs to Brampton. Highlights embody a café, nursing room, prayer rooms, coaching room, driver’s lounge and open idea workplace area. The Facility additionally employs superior well being and security options, reminiscent of ergonomically designed workstations and gear.
Starting within the first half of 2024, Pet Valu plans to introduce automation capabilities into the GTA DC, with the set up of Canada’s largest goods-to-person robotics set up devoted to pet specialty merchandise. The design may have the potential to course of orders identical day, whereas enhancing decide productiveness by greater than 50% and decreasing the general footprint in comparison with a standard handbook selecting answer. The Facility’s warehouse processes, techniques and automation are anticipated to cut back prices per case and drive productiveness enhancements in addition to present improved product availability, quicker order processing, and general customer support ranges for shops and eCommerce prospects.
“Our GTA DC establishes a brand new benchmark for pet specialty distribution capabilities in Canada. In addition to offering a contemporary provide chain community that may provide our shops with versatile, dependable and correct service, and world-class on-shelf availability in retailer and on-line, the power helps the person wants of our various workforce,” says Nico Weidel Chief Supply Chain Officer at Pet Valu.
Pet Valu expects the GTA DC to be totally operational by the primary half of 2024, following a phased transition interval. The Facility is presently commencing receipt and cargo of bulk objects reminiscent of dry pet meals and litter. Once set up and setup of automation gear is full in early 2024, receipt and cargo of piece-pick objects reminiscent of toys and collars will transition over to the GTA DC. The Company will scale down use of its legacy distribution services and third-party cupboard space within the Greater Toronto Area all through these phases.
The GTA DC serves as one ingredient of Pet Valu’s nationwide provide chain transformation technique. Commenced in 2022, the Company plans to take a position $110 million over 4 years to modernize its distribution networks within the Greater Toronto Area, Vancouver and Calgary. Progress has already begun in Vancouver, the place Pet Valu has signed a lease for a brand new, near-complete facility, concentrating on start-up in mid-2024.
About Pet Valu
Pet Valu is Canada’s main retailer of pet meals and pet-related provides with over 750 corporate-owned or franchised areas throughout the nation. For greater than 40 years, Pet Valu has earned the belief and loyalty of pet dad and mom by providing educated customer support, a premium product providing and interesting in-store companies. Pet Valu’s neighbourhood shops supply greater than 7,000 competitively priced merchandise, together with a broad assortment of premium, tremendous premium, holistic and award-winning proprietary manufacturers. To study extra, please go to: www.petvalu.ca.
Forward trying and different cautionary statements
This information launch accommodates “forward-looking data” inside the which means of relevant securities laws, which displays the Company’s present expectations relating to future occasions, together with the Company’s expectations relating to the timeline for the Facility to be totally operational and for the introduction of automation capabilities, the anticipated impression of the Facility, together with decide productiveness enchancment and job creation, and the quantity of funding to be made by the Company in its distribution community. Forward-looking data is predicated on a variety of assumptions, and is topic to a variety of dangers and uncertainties, a lot of that are past the Company’s management. Such dangers and uncertainties embody, however usually are not restricted to, the components mentioned within the “Risk Factors” part of the Company’s annual data type dated March 6, 2023. Actual outcomes may differ materially from these projected herein. Unless in any other case famous or the context in any other case signifies, the forward-looking data contained on this information launch is supplied as of the date of this information launch and Pet Valu doesn’t undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking data, whether or not because of new data, future occasions or in any other case, besides as expressly required beneath relevant securities legal guidelines.
SOURCE Pet Valu Canada Inc.
