Countdown has announced plans for a new, $99m distribution centre in Rolleston, Canterbury.

The 11,000m² development will service stores across the South Island and transform how Countdown moves fresh produce from local growers to its customers.

Countdown director of property Matt Grainger said cool chain integrity was the driving factor of the new distribution centre’s design, with produce arriving on cooled trucks into a refrigerated inbound tunnel before being quickly moved into one of the varied temperature-controlled zones or ripening rooms.

More refrigerated trucks will mean fruit and vegetables are kept at the right temperature at every point through the supply chain to stores across the South Island, he said.

The new facility featured solar power, rainwater harvesting and low energy-use condensers. The build was designed to strict Green Star standards in keeping with Countdown’s goal of all new buildings receiving a 4 Green Star rating or higher, which will be raised to a 5 Green Star rating on all new builds by 2025.

The Christchurch Fresh Distribution Centre is expected to open in early 2024.