Prioritise transit time to primary customer zones, carrier network coverage, real‑time WMS/TMS integrations, inventory accuracy and SLA penalties. Also assess cold‑chain capacity, value‑added service availability, scalability for peaks, and clear cost‑to‑serve modelling to compare providers objectively.

Look for proximity to Port of Bluff and major state highways, access to scheduled road freight lanes to Dunedin and Christchurch, rail handling for palletised freight, and airfreight options for expedited shipments. Strong carrier relationships reduce transit variability and freight costs.

Yes. Local providers commonly offer temperature‑controlled storage, pallet racking, pallet‑in/pallet‑out handling, and bespoke outbound routing for B2B accounts. Verify certified monitoring, compliance records, capacity guarantees, and contingency plans for peak seasons.

Run a network modelling exercise comparing inland vs coastal fulfilment nodes, calculate inventory days and freight spend by SKU, evaluate cross‑dock and hub opportunities, and negotiate service level commitments tied to lane performance to align cost and service objectives.