Port of Melbourne Playbook for FMCG: Cutting Import Lead Times (Reliably)

Melbourne FMCG supply chains win or lose on the boring bits: who owns the clock under your Incoterms, how containers are prioritised in the stack, whether your customs and biosecurity paperwork lands cleanly, how many VBS slots you secured before the vessel berthed, and whether you chose port-side devanning vs inland unpack based on the right constraints. This article breaks down a practical, Melbourne-specific playbook to remove avoidable days between the Port of Melbourne and your DCs in Derrimut, Truganina, Laverton North, or Dandenong South—and to keep you compliant with retailer RDC windows once stock is in hand.

Why lead time bloat creeps in (and how to spot it early)

Most lost days aren’t caused by a single failure. They accumulate through small frictions:

• Unclear ownership under Incoterms. If the shipper owns early milestones (FOB), but you still behave like you control them (as if CIF), hand-offs become grey zones.
• Late or error-ridden documents. Small mistakes in commercial invoices, packing lists, HS codes, or COO letters trigger biosecurity rechecks and customs queries.
• Stack position and container priorities. If your boxes sit at the back of a stack or you mix time-critical with non-urgent SKUs under one bill, you lose the ability to sequence pulls.
• VBS slot scarcity. Without a slot strategy, trucks wait, demurrage ticks up, and detention blows out.
• Unplanned devanning. Choosing inland unpack by default—even when dockside makes more sense—adds a day or two, and vice versa.
• Retailer compliance happening too late. If labelling/ASN/SSCC and pallet build don’t align to the retailer’s spec at the unpack, you pay later in rework and missed windows.

Diagnostic in one hour: Map the last four vessel calls. For each, note days between milestones: ATA/available, documents finalised, customs/biosecurity cleared, first slot booked, first lift, unpack complete, first DC receipt, first compliant ASN to retailer. You’ll see where the slippage lives.

Set the rules of the game: Incoterms and ownership

Pick terms that match your operating capability.

• If you can genuinely influence carrier choice, routing, and pre-advice quality, use FOB and take control from port of loading.
• If you lack bandwidth or leverage, CIF/CFR can work—but then renegotiate vendor KPIs: timeliness and accuracy of documents, VGM, and pre-advice quality should be contractually tied to payment.
• For urgent or sensitive lines (short shelf life, promo tie-ins), consider split strategies: 80% under standard terms, 20% under more controlled terms (FOB + premium routing) to protect uptime.

Make ownership explicit. Drop a one-page RACI into your SOP: who owns doc accuracy, who books slots, who triggers devanning, who raises carrier exceptions. Ambiguity is a schedule killer.

Choose lines and terminals with your dwell profile in mind

Not all services and terminals behave the same, and your product mix matters.

• Service frequency vs dwell risk. Higher frequency reduces variance. For high-velocity SKUs, pick lines with reliable rotation and shorter trans-ship risk.
• Terminal operating patterns. Understand typical stack runs, shift patterns, and cut-off behaviours so you can align slot strategies with actual lift rhythms.
• Container prioritisation. Work with your forwarder to tag hot boxes (promos, seasonal, launch items) under separate bills or as distinct groups, avoiding cross-contamination with slow lines.
• Box type choices. Don’t default to 40s if 20s give you better slot flexibility and yard handling speed for certain terminals and routes.

Practical move: Publish a “hot list” every week—container numbers, SKU family, devanning preference, required DC ETA—and share it with your forwarder and transport partners before the vessel arrives.

Win the paperwork: customs and biosecurity without the drama

Biosecurity (DAFF) and customs clearances often hinge on document precision and data lead time.

• Golden data pack from suppliers: HS codes validated, product descriptions standardised, COOs accurate, packing lists reconciled to SKUs and pallet counts, treatment certificates where needed.
• Pre-lodgement discipline: lodge entries and biosecurity docs as soon as vessel schedule is firm; aim for clearance before first slot is booked.
• Sensitive categories: for high-risk commodities (organics, timber packaging, certain food lines), pre-agree inspection protocols and ensure devanning sites meet inspection standards.
• Fallbacks: have an alternate inspection site ready (and compliant) so a failed first attempt doesn’t stall the chain.

Checklist to print: HS code table, DAFF risk flags by SKU, minimum doc set, inspection site list with hours and capacity, escalation contacts.

Slot smarter: Vehicle Booking System (VBS) tactics that actually work

VBS capacity is finite. Treat it like inventory.

• Book in waves, not drips. Secure slots as soon as availability opens in coherent blocks aligned to stack run windows.
• Prioritise “hot list” first. Pull priority boxes early, even if it means a partial run, to achieve meaningful DC receipts quickly.
• Diversify carriers. Relying on one carrier limits slot access. Maintain at least two partners with proven VBS performance.
• Night and shoulder plays. Off-peak slots can save a day in tight windows, especially if your unpack site operates late.
• Measure VBS hit rate and no-show discipline. Penalise avoidable no-shows; reward partners that consistently convert booked to lifted.

Pro tip: Create a “slot coverage” metric—slots secured vs boxes available by day—and review it every morning of a vessel week.

Devanning decisions: port-side vs inland unpack

There is no universal winner; match the method to your constraints.

Port-side devanning (“unpack at wharf”):

• Best for: high cube for the same DC, urgent promos, cold-chain risk, or when you need retailer-compliant pallet builds immediately.
• Pros: fewer kilometres moved in container form, faster first receipting, earlier QA; easier to fix labelling/pallet conformance before ASN.
• Cons: premium yard fees, limited rework space in peak periods, may require extended hours.

Inland unpack (third-party or DC):

• Best for: multi-DC allocations, mixed SKU containers that need complex sortation, or when your DC labour is under-utilised off-peak.
• Pros: better control over pallet spec, easier value-add (labelling, promo packs), consolidation to store waves.
• Cons: more touchpoints, higher risk of detention if unpack lags, reliance on inland slot availability.

Decision rule: If you need compliant pallets ready for a retailer booking inside 48 hours, bias port-side devanning—unless your inland facility is staffed and running extended hours to match.

First-mile from port to DC: choose your lane (and time of day)

Melbourne roadworks and commuter peaks aren’t going away. Plan routes and time bands.

• Western DCs (Derrimut/Truganina/Laverton North): short drays from port; use shoulder hours to avoid CBD peaks; pre-book weighbridges.
• South-East DCs (Dandenong South/Keysborough): consider night runs or early morning windows; evaluate rail shuttle options if viable for your volume profile.
• Back-to-back scheduling: align port lifts to DC receiving windows; don’t let trucks idle outside DC because the inbound plan ignored receiving capacity.
• Container prioritisation: send “hot list” to the closest DC first; mix FAKs and dedicated boxes to keep unload teams busy continuously.

Pallet build, labelling, and retailer compliance—do it once, do it right

Avoid rework at the DC or, worse, the retailer back dock.

• Pallet spec by retailer: height, weight, overhang, shrink wrap gauge, corner boards, and ticket position—lock this into your devanning SOP.
• SSCC and ASN discipline: generate SSCCs at the point pallets are complete and verified; transmit ASNs as soon as loads are staged.
• Mixed SKU strategy: for store-ready pallets, cluster by aisle/section where retailers allow; for RDC-ready, stick to single-SKU unless your vendor manual allows mixed.
• QA in the right place: inspect before stretch wrap; photograph and archive—especially for promo packs or fragile lines.

Simple rule: Retailer compliance starts at devanning. If you leave it to the DC, you’ve already lost a day.

Inventory triage: what gets cross-docked vs what gets stored

FMCG winners separate flow from stock.

• Cross-dock candidates: promo lines, short shelf life, high-velocity replenishment, or anything tied to a marketing date.
• Stock candidates: predictable base lines with decent cover, or items awaiting QA/testing hold.
• Shelf life logic: implement “minimum remaining life” gates per customer—if a pallet fails the gate, it routes to a different channel automatically.
• System flags: mark priorities in the WMS/TMS—urgent, aged, rework required—so DC teams aren’t guessing.

Retailer RDC bookings: align the whole chain backwards

If the goal is a Tuesday 06:00-08:00 slot at a retailer RDC, reverse the plan:

• Working back from slot time, fix the DC wave start, pallet completion time, devanning finish, first lift from port, and document clearance deadlines.
• Buffer real minutes, not vibes. Add fixed buffers where variance is non-negotiable (e.g., QA holds, carrier yard queue at peaks).
• Keep one uncommitted slot. A spare retailer slot per week for rescue loads is cheaper than chargebacks and lost promo sales.

Metrics that actually reduce days (and keep them down)

• Port-to-DC cycle: average and P90 days from ATA to first DC receipt.
• Docs quality: % entries cleared pre-berth; biosecurity rework rate.
• Slot coverage: slots secured vs boxes available by day on each vessel.
• Lift conversion: booked vs lifted per day; missed lift root causes.
• Devanning speed: hours from lift to pallets ready; P90 across partners.
• Retailer readiness: % pallets ASN-ready within 24 hours of lift; chargebacks per 1,000 pallets.
• Demurrage/detention: dollars per TEU; age profile of boxes on hand.

Review weekly. Publish a single dashboard; retire vanity metrics.

A 30-60-90 day plan for Melbourne FMCG importers

Days 1–30: Stabilise the basics

• Lock a golden data pack template with suppliers; enforce pre-lodgement.
• Select/add a second carrier for slot diversification.
• Publish the weekly hot list SOP (containers, devanning preference, required DC ETA).
• Stand up a vessel week huddle (logistics, DC, sales) with a seven-day look-ahead.

Days 31–60: Accelerate flow

• Pilot port-side devanning for two hot SKUs and measure time to ASN-ready pallets.
• Move to wave slot booking and set a slot coverage target (e.g., 80% of boxes slotted within 24 hours of ATA).
• Re-write retailer compliance at devanning work instructions; train the yard team and capture photo QA.

Days 61–90: Lock in resilience

• Formalise dual routing for one high-risk product family (alternate carrier/terminal plan).
• Implement P90 lead-time targets and CI routines with partners; tie a small fee share to beating P90.
• Build a control tower lite: one screen showing docs status, slot coverage, lift conversion, devanning speed, and retailer readiness.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

1. Treating VBS like an afterthought. It’s the heartbeat. Aim for block bookings and measure slot coverage each morning.
2. Mixing hot and cold freight. Separate bills/boxes so you can prioritise lifts without dragging dead weight.
3. Leaving retailer compliance to the DC. Build to spec at devanning; yank out a full day of rework.
4. One-carrier reliance. Diversify; even one extra partner changes your slot access and lift conversion.
5. Paper SOPs with no cadence. Vessel-week huddles, daily slot stand-ups, and a single cross-functional dashboard keep everyone honest.
6. Assuming inland unpack is always cheaper. Time is money in promos and fresh lines. Run the math weekly.

How Trace Consultants can help

• Import flow diagnostic (2–3 weeks). Map your last four vessel calls, quantify dwell by milestone, test devanning choices, and surface the exact days to remove.
• VBS & first-mile playbook. Design slot booking cadences, carrier diversification, route/time-band strategies, and “slot coverage” reporting you can run in half an hour a day.
• Devanning & compliance SOPs. Write and stand up port-side and inland unpack procedures that hard-wire retailer pallet specs, SSCC/ASN steps, and photo QA.
• Retailer readiness engine. Reverse-plan from the RDC slot to port lift; embed buffers and auto-alerts so the plan survives real-world variance.
• Control tower lite. One dashboard for docs status, slot coverage, lift conversion, devanning speed, DC wave starts, and ASN-ready pallets.
• Continuous improvement loop. Build partner scorecards (forwarder, transport, unpack site), run monthly CI gates tied to measurable reductions in P90 ATA-to-DC and chargebacks.
• Capability uplift. Train your planners and DC leads on the simple, repeatable behaviours that permanently shave days off your Melbourne inbound lane.

Cutting five–ten days from port-to-DC doesn’t require heroics. It requires clear ownership of the early steps (Incoterms and documents), a deliberate slot and lift strategy, devanning choices made with retailer compliance in mind, and a predictable first-mile plan tied to DC receiving reality. Measure the chain in the same way every week, keep your partners honest with simple scorecards, and shift the “boring bits” from fire-fighting to routine. That’s how Melbourne FMCG importers move faster—consistently, and without drama.

‍

Warehouse Design in Australia & New Zealand: A Practical Guide for Growth

Why Warehouse Design Matters More Than Ever

Today’s warehouses are far more than storage spaces; they’re critical hubs that drive service, cost-efficiency, and sustainability across supply chains. For businesses in Australia and New Zealand, geography, labour dynamics, and booming e-commerce make smart warehouse design a strategic necessity.

Whether you're replenishing perishable stock in suburban Melbourne, fulfilling fast-moving orders in Auckland, or balancing store and online distribution across ANZ, how you structure your warehouse impacts everything—from picking speed to energy usage and customer satisfaction.

If you want to understand how warehouse layout links to bigger supply chain performance goals, Trace Consultants takes a solution-agnostic approach—grounded in real operational needs, not property deals or vendor pressure.

1. Start with Clear Objectives and Local Realities

Effective warehouse design begins with clarity. What are you trying to achieve—faster deliveries, lower labour costs, better service levels, sustainability, flexibility? The Trace Consultants team always start with diagnostic work that looks at both current performance and future requirements before a single drawing is sketched.

In Australia and NZ, these objectives must also accommodate unique factors: sprawling distances, supply-chain bottlenecks in remote areas, labour tightness, and escalating sustainability expectations.

2. Best Practices That Shape a High-Performing Warehouse

Several design principles consistently lift performance:

• Understand your flows and volume. Map inbound goods, staging, stacking, picking, packing, and shipping—then align your layout to minimise unnecessary movement and physical touches.
• Prioritise one-way flow to avoid congestion and inefficiencies.
• Limit material handling touches—ideally to fewer than five during a single movement—to cut labour costs and boost accuracy.
• Optimise space and racking by balancing vertical storage with accessibility and safety.
• Integrate technology where it adds value, from warehouse management systems to automation or robotics—backed by a clear business case.
• Design for safety and sustainability, aligning with OH&S compliance and environmental goals.

Trace Consultants regularly blends these principles with modelling tools to forecast how a design will work under real-world volumes.

3. Warehouse Design Meets Broader Supply-Chain Strategy

Warehouse design doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s tightly linked to distribution network structure, facility location, demand patterns, and supply-chain resilience.

When Trace Consultants designs warehouse layouts, they consider omnichannel service models, inventory spread, transport footprints, and seasonal demand alongside physical layout.

4. ANZ Challenges—and How to Navigate Them

E-commerce Surge & Labour Pressure

With online growth continuing and labour markets tight, warehouses must be efficient, flexible and often automated to fulfil orders on time. Trace Consultants brings retail, FMCG, and industrial experience to solving these constraints.

Geographic and Logistical Constraints

From Perth to the Far North and across NZ’s islands, transport distances drive cost and complexity. Facility location and internal flow must work together to maintain service levels. This is where Trace’s network design expertise is crucial.

Sustainability Commitments

Modern warehouses must reduce environmental impact—whether through energy-efficient lighting, solar integration, or reduced transport miles. Trace Consultants integrates sustainability into both design and operational recommendations.

5. How Trace Consultants Can Help

Objective, Tailored Insights
Trace Consultants has no vested interest in selling a property or system, meaning you get independent advice designed for long-term success.

Retail-Specific Expertise
They understand Australian and NZ retail dynamics, omnichannel fulfilment complexity, and SKU-rich environments, supported by strong modelling capability. Learn more here.

Network and Layout Integration
They align your warehouse with the broader supply chain—whether it’s a DC, dark store, or micro-fulfilment hub—using network optimisation modelling.

Smart Automation Decisions
Trace guides automation choices—from AS/RS systems to IoT tracking—based on your specific operational needs. Read their perspective.

Process, Workforce & Sustainability
Layout changes are matched with process improvement, ergonomic design, and sustainability initiatives to lock in long-term performance.

End-to-End Execution
From strategy and design to implementation and change management, Trace Consultants supports the full journey.

6. A Typical Project Journey

1. Assessment – Review flows, inventory, throughput, and costs.
2. Benchmark & Modelling – Test scenarios and layout options.
3. Pilot & Iterate – Trial changes in a contained zone.
4. Roll-out – Implement approved design across facility.
5. Sustain & Learn – Monitor KPIs and refine over time.

7. Future Trends in Warehouse Design

• AI-driven slotting for faster picking.
• Autonomous vehicles and drones for internal and last-mile movement.
• Green infrastructure like solar rooftops and recycled building materials.
• Multi-use hubs supporting click-and-collect, returns, and rapid fulfilment.

8. FAQ: Warehouse Design in ANZ

What triggers a redesign?
Lease expiries, growth, e-commerce scale-up, M&A, poor DIFOT, or sustainability goals are common triggers.

How long does it take?
Initial layouts may be done in weeks; full execution across multiple sites can take 6–12 months.

Is automation worth it?
If your labour costs are rising or throughput demands are increasing, yes—when supported by a sound business case.

Final Word

In Australia and New Zealand’s competitive supply-chain landscape, a well-designed warehouse is more than efficient storage—it’s a strategic advantage.

By partnering with Trace Consultants, you gain a team that links warehouse design to network strategy, sustainability, and operational excellence—creating facilities that are faster, smarter, and built for the future.

‍

The Easter Bunny’s Australian Supply Chain

Picture the Easter Bunny: fluffy ears, twitchy nose, and a massive job to deliver 2.75 million chocolate eggs to 2.5 million Aussie kids under 10 (based on 2025 Australian Bureau of Statistics data) in just one week. This furry logistics boss must move eggs across Australia’s huge 7.7 million square kilometres, from busy cities to dusty Outback towns, all while keeping them cool in March’s heat. For supply chain folks, the Bunny’s plan is a fun yet smart example of network planning, handling demand spikes, keeping things cold, moving goods, working with logistics partners, and negotiating deals. Here’s how the Bunny gets it done.

Network Planning: A Simple Setup

Australia’s a tricky place for logistics—big cities, far-flung towns, and beaches where even the seagulls seem to have a plan. The Bunny uses a hub-and-spoke system to keep costs low and deliveries fast, making sure every kid gets their egg.

How It Works:

1. Main Egg Factory (CFH): The Bunny sets up in Melbourne, Victoria, where there are good ports, roads, and plenty of workers who love a good coffee. This factory pumps out eggs like nobody’s business.
2. Distribution Centres (DCs): These are like storage hubs spread out to get eggs to kids quickly, no matter where they live.
3. Last-Mile Delivery: Local couriers (and maybe a few magical roos) drop eggs at homes, schools, or community spots.

This setup keeps egg-making central but spreads out delivery, so eggs zoom to kids during Easter’s big week.

Handling the Easter Rush: No Worries

Easter’s a wild time—one week of crazy egg demand, then nothing for 51 weeks. The Bunny’s plan is flexible, scaling up fast without wasting cash when things quiet down.

How the Bunny Copes:

1. Temp Workers: The Bunny hires extra hands—think keen students or spry retirees—for January to March to make and pack eggs. After Easter, they’re off to other jobs.
2. Stocking Up Early: Egg production starts in January, with 2.75 million eggs (2.5 million for kids, plus extra for “whoops, it melted” moments) stored in cool warehouses by March.
3. Short-Term DCs: The Bunny rents storage space for 3–6 months instead of owning it year-round. Pop-up DCs appear where needed, like magic.
4. Smart Planning: Using data, the Bunny figures out how many eggs each area needs, from Sydney’s bustle to the Outback’s quiet.

By preparing early and staying nimble, the Bunny turns Easter’s rush into a smooth operation.

Distribution Centres: Where to Store the Eggs

With 2.5 million kids across Australia, the Bunny needs storage hubs placed just right to reach everyone. The plan includes five main DCs and three smaller ones, set up like a well-played game of chess.

Main DCs (5):

1. Sydney, NSW: Covers ~1 million kids, handling eggs like a barista slinging coffees in a rush.
2. Melbourne, VIC: Serves ~800,000 kids and is next to the factory for easy egg flow.
3. Brisbane, QLD: Looks after ~650,000 kids, plus northern NSW, keeping Queensland happy.
4. Perth, WA: Handles ~300,000 kids, saving time since Perth’s so far away.
5. Adelaide, SA: Takes care of ~200,000 kids, plus parts of the Northern Territory, with a laid-back vibe.

Smaller DCs (3):

1. Cairns, QLD: Gets eggs to remote Far North Queensland kids.
2. Alice Springs, NT: Serves Outback families, quick as a desert breeze.
3. Hobart, TAS: Covers Tasmania’s ~60,000 kids, keeping the island stocked.

Why These Spots?

• Lots of Kids: Main DCs are in big cities where most kids live, making deliveries easy.
• Remote Reach: Smaller DCs help far-off places, so no one misses out.
• Good Connections: All DCs are near roads, airports, or ports for smooth shipping.

Each DC holds 500,000–1 million eggs, with Sydney and Melbourne taking the biggest loads. The Bunny uses clever software to decide where eggs go, so none get lost.

Keeping Eggs Cool: No Melty Messes

Chocolate eggs don’t like heat—they need to stay at 15–18°C with low humidity to avoid turning into goo. With March temps hitting 30°C in some spots, the Bunny’s cold chain is rock-solid.

Cooling Tricks:

1. Cold Storage: The factory and DCs have big fridges to keep eggs at 15–18°C. Backup power stops meltdowns if the lights go out.
2. Smart Packing: Eggs are packed in insulated boxes with gel packs, like they’re tucked in for a nap, to stay cool during delivery.
3. Tech Alerts: Sensors check temperature and humidity, sending warnings if things get too warm, like a digital watchdog.
4. Food Safety Rules: The Bunny follows FSANZ standards, so eggs are safe to eat, even in the Outback’s heat.

For far-off deliveries, the Bunny uses dry ice or special cooling packs to keep eggs perfect, not puddles.

Moving Eggs: Getting Them There

Shifting 2.75 million eggs across Australia’s huge landscape is like herding cats on skateboards. The Bunny’s transport plan is fast, cheap, and keeps eggs cool.

How Eggs Move:

1. From Factory to DCs:
   • Trucks: Big refrigerated trucks carry 20,000–50,000 eggs to Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, cruising highways like pros.
   • Planes: Cargo planes take 100,000–200,000 eggs to Perth, Brisbane, and smaller DCs, with cool storage on board.
2. Last-Mile Delivery:
   • Cities: Electric refrigerated vans drop 1,000–2,000 eggs per trip, dodging traffic like champs.
   • Remote Areas: Tough 4WD trucks or small planes reach the Outback, with drones for super-far spots (10–50 eggs per go).
3. Returns: After Easter, leftover or broken eggs go back for recycling, using the same cool transport.

Fixing Transport Problems:

• Long Trips: Planes and local DCs cut travel time to places like Perth.
• Rough Roads: Strong trucks and backup routes handle bumpy Outback tracks.
• Fuel Costs: Smart software plans routes to save fuel, keeping costs down.

Logistics Partners: The Bunny’s Mates

The Bunny’s great at hiding eggs but needs help with logistics. Third-party logistics (3PL) companies handle storage, transport, and deliveries like pros.

The 3PL Crew:

1. DHL Supply Chain: Experts at keeping eggs cool from factory to DC.
2. Toll Group: Awesome at road and air transport, especially to remote spots.
3. Australia Post: Delivers to every Aussie address, rain or shine.
4. StarTrack: Fast deliveries for far-off places, keeping eggs on time.

Why Pick Them?

• Cool Skills: They know how to handle cold stuff like eggs.
• Big Reach: They cover cities and the middle of nowhere.
• Flexibility: They ramp up for Easter and chill out after.
• Tech Smarts: They use tracking and sensors for clear updates.

The Bunny signs 3–6-month deals to save money, with rewards for 3PLs who do a top job.

Negotiating Deals: Smart Bargaining

The Bunny’s got a tight budget (magic carrots aren’t cheap). It negotiates with 3PLs like a clever fox to keep costs low.

Bargaining Moves:

1. Big Orders: With 2.75 million eggs, the Bunny gets discounts. Promising DHL 500,000 eggs’ worth of work? That’s a deal-sweetener.
2. Short Contracts: Deals for 3–6 months with “let’s do it again” options save cash.
3. All-in-One Deals: Combining storage, transport, and delivery with one 3PL (like Toll) gets a cheaper rate.
4. Shop Around: The Bunny asks for quotes from different 3PLs, letting them compete to lower prices.
5. Cool Perks: The Bunny offers 3PLs a shout-out as “Official Easter Bunny Partners”—who wouldn’t want that?

How the Bunny Negotiates:

• Charm Offensive: The Bunny’s cute stories about happy kids soften tough negotiators.
• Data Power: It uses demand plans and delivery needs to make a strong case.
• Backup Options: With other 3PLs ready, the Bunny can walk away if prices aren’t right.

Rough Costs:

• Making Eggs: $1–2 per egg (~$2.75 million).
• Storage/Transport: $0.50–$1 per egg (~$1.375–$2.75 million).
• Last-Mile: $0.25–$0.50 per egg (~$687,500–$1.375 million).
• Total: ~$4.8–$6.875 million.

Good deals could save $500,000–$1 million, leaving extra carrots for next year.

The Easter Bunny’s Australian supply chain is a logistics gem, using smart planning, flexible scaling, and 3PL teamwork to deliver 2.75 million eggs in one big week. With storage hubs placed like pawprints, a cold chain tougher than a desert storm, and transport quicker than a cheeky quokka, the Bunny makes sure every kid gets their choccy treat. Through clever deal-making and a bit of furry charm, it keeps costs low and smiles high. For supply chain pros, this shows even a fluffy legend can tackle Australia’s logistics challenges, delivering Easter magic with a hop and a grin.

‍