Yahoo Finance New entrant to Aussie supermarket war goes on hiring spree
Aldi rival Kaufland is making further inroads into the Australian supermarket landscape, having hired more than 120 staff already with plans to hire thousands more.
The German supermarket giant announced a $459 million investment in Australia earlier this year, and according to The Australian, has already recruited 123 workers in management, administrative and executive roles.
But with a 110,000 square meter distribution centre in Melbourne on the way, thousands more workers will need to be hired.
The distribution store will require 1,600 workers, with Kaufland also approved to open stores in Dandenong, Chirnside Park and Epping in Victoria.
Stores in Oakleigh South, Coolaroo and Mornington are also on the cards. Kaufland plans to sell Australian produce and well-known brands, but is not expected to open stores until at least a year from now.
Already on the Kaufland Australia team are Julia Kern, country manager and Malte Nousch, who previously worked as strategy director at British supermarket company Tesco.
Mark Hewlett is chief operating officer at Kaufland Australia.
Store planners, IT officers and construction directors have also been hired.
Kaufland is also hiring property developers, process managers, legal managers, quality assurance managers and buyers across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Kaufland’s opening comes as Woolworths grapples with a Fair Work Commission challenge over its $10 million restructuring strategy. The retail workers’ union claims the restructuring, which will see new supermarket departments and roles created, will also result in “not-genuine” redundancies.
Coles also recently announced plans to make 450 jobs redundant in Coles’ east Melbourne office.
The cuts were announced in the name of increased efficiencies.
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