The Warehouse axes about 40 jobs after closing online shopping distribution centres

Monday, 12 August 2019

The Warehouse has closed nearly all its instore distribution centres for online shopping purchases with the loss of about 40 jobs.

In May the retailer said the move to close 11 distribution centres in favour of a single distribution point would improve the company's online shopping service by ensuring all items in an order were delivered at the same time. Under the previous system items were sent separately from The Warehouse stores around the country.

Ten instore distribution centres had already closed and the last centre would close at the end of August, a spokeswoman said.

The plan had put 133 jobs in limbo.

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When the restructure was announced staff said it had taken a toll on colleagues' mental health but they had to keep working.

First Union which represents the workers has been approached for comment.

The stores affected were Eastgate, Lyall Bay, Pakuranga, Riccarton, Silverdale, South Dunedin, Sylvia park, Westgate, East Tamaki, Papanui and Petone.

But the spokeswoman said about 70 per cent of the workers affected by the restructure had been redeployed to roles either in stores or to the centralised distribution centre.

The Warehouse also plans to move some call centre jobs overseas by the end of August. The move would allow longer service hours and the flexibility to better cope with peak periods such as Christmas.

The spokeswoman would not say how many jobs were at risk.

Most of the affected staff spoken to would remain with the company, she said.

Earlier this month The Warehouse launched its online shopping website TheMarket, but the spokeswoman said the decision to centralise its distribution centre was not related to the website.