Pet Valu has  opened a new 350,000-square-foot distribution centre in Surrey, B.C., as part of a $100-million supply-chain transformation project.

The facility is three times larger than its existing warehouse B.C., and unlocks the company’s continued growth in Western Canada while providing enhanced service to existing stores, said Pet Valu.

“Our new Surrey DC represents the second pillar of our supply-chain transformation, and another key achievement of our cross-functional teams, whose careful balance of rigourous planning and iterative learning have kept this multi-year project on time and on budget,” says Richard Maltsbarger, Pet Valu’s CEO, in a news release.

The Surrey DC is the second-largest pet specialty distribution centre in Canada, exceeded only by Pet Valu’s own 670,000-sf distribution centre in Brampton, Ont., and brings up to 150 skilled jobs to Surrey, according to the company.

“Following several years of heightened investments, we are now entering the final stretch of our transformation, after which we will have Canada’s strongest pet specialty distribution network as the backbone to propel Pet Valu’s continued profitable growth over the next decade,” said Maltsbarger.

Like the Brampton distribution centre, the Surrey facility utilizes an advanced warehouse management system, and modernized machine-handling equipment, safety systems and security systems. The building contains wellness space for employees, including a meal room, training space, a driver’s lounge, prayer and ablution rooms, and first-aid facilities.

The facility will pilot the use of two electric trucks as part of its delivery fleet to optimize energy and emissions management. Each electric delivery truck has the opportunity reduce diesel-fuel consumption about 250,000 litres per year.

Pet Valu expects the facility to be fully operational in the fourth quarter as it scales down and exits its legacy distribution centre and storage space in Metro Vancouver. The distribution centre is currently shipping and receiving products manually. Automation of  its piece-pick operations will commence in 2026 or later.

Pet Valu plans to complete its supply-chain transformation with a distribution in Calgary in 2025.