Woolworths is soon to open its first “dark store” in Queensland at Rochedale.
Although on the Brisbane side of the border, the centre is expected to generate employment for 800 “personal shoppers” when it opens.
The store is designed to exclusively service online grocery shoppers and would not be open to the public. Over 10,000 square metres, it would have wider aisles and more shelf space than a standard supermarket.
According to Woolworths, this allows personal shoppers to handpick orders from a range of about 20,000 products quickly, accurately and efficiently.
“We’re seeing more and more of our customers turn to the ease and convenience of online grocery delivery,” the company’s new capability manager Tamara Manasserian said.
“To keep pace with the demand, we’re investing in a dedicated online fulfilment centre to offer our customers more delivery windows and an even more reliable service.
“The project is … expected to create up to 200 jobs during construction. It’s a great example of retail innovation driving jobs growth in Queensland.”
Woolworths research shows online sales grew 92% between July and December last year.
Construction would start in the coming months.
