The members of the Drinks Association’s Supply Chain & Logistics Forum were fortunate to be hosted by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) in Melbourne, where we had the opportunity to visit two of their cornerstone sites in the Mentone Distribution Centre and the Moorabbin production facility.
Both tours gave a behind-the-scenes look at CCEP’s large-scale operations, highlighting the technology, processes and innovations that are reshaping efficiency and sustainability in the supply chain.
The Moorabbin production facility showcased the scale of CCEP’s manufacturing capabilities – one of its four major production sites across the country. Home to a workforce of more than 150 employees, the site has undergone significant investment to strengthen its output and sustainability credentials. In 2022, CCEP introduced a new can line with a capacity of 1,700 cans per minute across multiple formats. The environmental impact of this upgrade is particularly impressive, delivering annual water savings equivalent to more than six Olympic-sized swimming pools and cutting energy use by approximately 160,000 kWh.
CCEP continues to invest in its Australian operations, with its single largest national investment coming online next year at its Moorabbin site. The new Warmfill production line that is currently under construction, will be dedicated to Powerade and Fuze Tea. Set to be operational in early 2026, this investment has the capability to increase site capacity by 23%, supported by a new 4,200m² production hall and upgraded infrastructure. The scale of these projects gives a strong sense of how Moorabbin continues to evolve as a modern, sustainable hub within CCEP’s Australian operations.
The Mentone Distribution Centre, located just 20 km from the CBD and closely connected to Moorabbin, is where CCEP manages outbound logistics across the southern states. In 2023, a $17 million investment transformed the site with an expanded Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). The additional 12,000 pallet spaces and new Vectura cranes enable faster, more efficient operations while reducing reliance on off-site storage.
The technical upgrades, including overlapping row carrier functionality and a mix of storage depths from three to nine pallets, showcased how smart configuration balances speed with density. It was clear how these changes not only lift distribution capacity but also enhance flexibility in responding to market demand.
What resonated strongly during the visit was the environmental impact. Together, the upgrades at Mentone and Moorabbin will have the potential to reduce interstate freight by more than two million kilometres annually, which equates to a reduction of approximately 3,700 tonnes of CO₂ each year. It is inspiring to see sustainability integrated so deeply into supply chain innovation.
A huge thank you to CCEP for hosting the forum; from the warm welcome with morning coffees and gifts to providing the perfect venue for our presentations and for giving us the opportunity to experience their impressive facilities in action. We’re especially grateful to Michael Whitford, Sophie Medak, Orlaith Spooner, Vanessa Sladdin, Stuart Dunstall, Sam Scott, Paul Datt, Alister George and Maas Kitchilan for making the two days such a success.