Global snack food leader Mondelēz has officially opened the doors to its new distribution centre, which will handle multiple household product names including Cadbury, Pascall, Olina’s, and The Natural Confectionery Company.

Located in Truganina, Victoria, approximately 25km west of the Melbourne CBD, the distribution centre is twice the size of the MCG.

Swisslog successfully tendered for the project, with the company’s Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Dan Ulmamei said Mondelēz required a solution that could handle seasonal and non-seasonal goods simultaneously, while boosting storage capacity and distribution efficiency across Victoria.

“It’s also significant because this is the biggest in-house operational automated warehouse that will be run by Mondelēz, and not through a 3PL,” he said.

The Swisslog ASRS will allow Mondelēz to consolidate their Victorian Distribution Centres and their offsite storage into one facility.

“This consolidation eliminates double-handling inefficiencies, and has the flexibility for future growth. The new facility is designed to handle 56,000 pallets initially in the high bay with room to expand the ASRS up to 62,000 in the future as the business grows,”Mr Ulmamei said.

In addition to the creation of 200 jobs, the facility will see 11 robotic cranes, 17 levels of automated storage and 500m of conveyor belts in use.

Speaking with the Herald Sun Cadbury Japan, Australia and New Zealand chief executive Toby Smith said the $130 million investment was a vote of confidence in the future of Australian manufacturing.

“We’re proud to make this investment in Australia, proud to create jobs in Melbourne’s west and proud that the biggest facility for Cadbury anywhere in the world is right here in Truganina,” Mr Smith said.