Suntory expands Wiri operations as warehouse capacity grows
Suntory Oceania has unveiled a new $13 million warehouse at its Wiri manufacturing site in Auckland, significantly expanding on-site storage capacity as the company continues strengthening its manufacturing and supply chain operations across New Zealand and Australia.
Operational from May 2026, the purpose-built warehouse increases on-site storage capacity from approximately 1,000 pallet spaces to more than 4,300. The investment forms part of a broader programme aimed at improving operational resilience, inventory management and manufacturing efficiency across the business.
The new warehouse is supported by an electronic warehouse management system designed to modernise how inventory is received, stored and managed, while improving visibility and supply chain control across the site.
Ian Roberts, chief supply chain officer at Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania, says the project represented an important operational step for the Wiri facility.
“This is a very tangible investment in Wiri and in our New Zealand operations. By increasing on-site capacity and improving how we manage raw materials, we’re making the site safer, more efficient and better equipped to support the needs of a growing, multi-beverage business,” he says.
The investment follows the official launch of Suntory Oceania in New Zealand earlier this year, bringing together the company’s alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage operations across Australia and New Zealand under a unified multi-beverage structure.
The Suntory Oceania portfolio now spans more than 40 brands across premium spirits, RTD beverages, soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, water and juice categories, including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Canadian Club, Hibiki Japanese Whisky, V Energy, Maximus and Suntory Boss coffee.
The Wiri warehouse investment reflects broader change occurring across beverage manufacturing and distribution operations throughout New Zealand, where manufacturers are increasingly focused on improving inventory visibility, reducing transport inefficiencies and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Environmental considerations were also incorporated into the Wiri project during construction. Suntory Oceania says crushed concrete from the previous warehouse slab was reused within the development, while the roof structure was designed to accommodate future solar installation.
The company expects bringing additional storage capacity on site will reduce transport movements and eliminate double handling associated with off-site storage operations, supporting emissions reduction initiatives across the supply chain.
Additional details released by Cook Brothers Construction, which delivered the project, show the development involved demolition of the previous warehouse, extensive ground improvement works and construction of a new 4,000m² facility. The project also included installation of 908 rammed aggregate piers to support the building foundation.
The Wiri investment also sits within a broader logistics and manufacturing transformation programme underway across Suntory Oceania’s regional operations.
Alongside the Auckland expansion, the company is progressing its new carbon-neutral Swanbank Beverage Facility in Ipswich, Queensland, representing more than A$400 million of investment and one of the largest FMCG manufacturing developments in Australia in recent years.
The Swanbank facility forms a major component of Suntory Oceania’s “One Suntory” strategy, which is focused on integrating beverage manufacturing, warehousing and distribution capability across the region.
“Our new warehouse sits within a broader transformation underway across Suntory Oceania as we expand our manufacturing footprint in Oceania,” says Roberts.
“Alongside our new carbon-neutral manufacturing facility in Queensland, the Wiri site plays an important role in how we continue to invest locally and build a resilient, sustainable manufacturing network to support customers and consumers across Australia and New Zealand.”
The Wiri site also operates alongside Suntory’s nearby ‘Vault’ distribution facility at Auckland’s M20 Business Park, where the company has previously introduced laser-guided vehicles, robotic pallet shuttle systems and high-density automated storage technologies designed to improve warehouse throughput and operational efficiency.