Supplied by dealer Northside Truck & Van, the Helmsley-based operator now has 10 Mercedes vehicles within its 16-strong fleet.
The latest additions are 313 CDIs with insulated long bodies – like their predecessors, they have food-grade insulated conversions by GRP, of Leeds, but they have no refrigeration units. Instead, each is fitted with a small chilled compartment kept cool by removable ice packs which are frozen overnight at the bakery.
“Our delivery runs are quite short – typically taking no more than two hours – and the ice packs are well capable of maintaining temperatures between 2 -5oC within that time window,” says production director Steve Simpson.
“It’s a simpler, more cost-effective system, and well suited to our operation.”
The vehicles are also supplied on a fixed monthly fee Mercedes-Benz Service Care contracts. “This is a new system for us,” says Simpson. “We’re trialling it, and have been impressed with what we’ve seen. The rates are highly competitive and the regular payment makes our running costs much more easily predictable.”
He rates the dealer’s service team, describing them as “real commercial vehicle people”, and adds: “Our vans start work at 3am, which is not a time you want a van to break down, so reliability and top quality back-up are of paramount importance.
“We’re delighted with our Mercedes-Benz vans, and will continue to replace the remaining vehicles from our previous supplier with more Sprinters.”