Evaluate SLA performance, WMS and API integration capabilities, throughput and peak capacity, pick density and slotting strategy, value‑added service offerings (kitting, returns), labor availability, security and compliance, and transparent cost models that enable cost‑to‑serve analysis.

A Sunbury location typically shortens last‑mile distances to large consumer clusters, increases carrier density for competitive rates, and leverages multimodal routing to reduce transit variability — all contributing to lower freight spend and improved delivery predictability.

Prioritize controlled‑temperature zones with validated refrigeration, redundant power and monitoring, dock and staging capacity for high‑volume pallet flows, cross‑dock capabilities, compliance certifications, and real‑time inventory visibility to support traceability and tight delivery windows.

Request line‑item pricing for receiving, storage (by tier), pick/pack, shipping, and returns processing; model SKU velocity against storage and handling rates; include shrinkage, chargeback policies, and SLA penalties to calculate total landed fulfillment cost and seasonal variability impacts.