The market for UK food drink products delivered on pallets remained buoyant in 2016/17, which helped Palletways UK to move 5.4 million pallets over the course of the last 12 months. This figure represented a 5.8% increase on 2015/16 as Europe’s largest and fastest-growing palletised express freight network enjoyed its biggest year since launch in 1994. Key highlights which tell the story of 2016/17 include: • Largest daily volume in pallets recorded was 27,017, up from 24,696 in 2015-2016 – up 9.4%; • The number of delivery consignments in a day, with 22,311 being the single- day record, up from 19,715 year-on-year – up 13%; • Membership numbers in the UK climbed from 107 to 113 – a record high. Dave Walmsley, Palletways UK Managing Director, says: “The figures for this year are outstanding and represent our biggest year on record. Our investment in technology, commitment to expansion in the UK and abroad, and members’ dedication to customer service excellence enables us to be the pallet network of choice for food and drink manufacturers. “With UK food and drink contributing some £28.2 billion to the economy annually, we’ve set a course for Palletways to support sectors critical to the day-to-day functioning of the country with recent projects such as our ETA technology, which was a pallet industry first. Our two-hour time notifi- cation delivery window provides delivery time certainty for customers and consumers. The expansion of additional regional hubs in the UK South West, Spain and Germany give customers unrivalled access to markets at home and abroad.” 76 BREWING & BEVERAGE INDUSTRIES BUSINESS One of the UK’s top pub businesses and a leading brewer of premium cask and bottled beers is calling time on its long-established, mixed-marque van fleet after deciding to work towards an all-Mercedes-Benz line-up. Marston’s, which operates from headquarters in Wolverhampton, has just taken delivery of eight short-bodied, high-roofed Sprinter 314 CDIs from the local branch of dealer Midlands Truck & Van. Five replace older vehicles which have been stood down, while the remaining three are extensions to the fleet. Marston’s roots stretch back 180 years – it is the world’s largest brewer of cask ale and operates more than 1,700 pubs nationwide. The company runs approxi- mately 50 vans, many of which were inherited through acquisitions. In the latest of these, completed in May, it purchased the brewing business and beer distribution rights of Charles Wells, whose brands included Bombardier, Courage and McEwan’s, for £55 million. While Marston’s allocates some of its vans to engineers who maintain its pub infrastructure, most are assigned to its distribution team and used to make urgent deliveries of anything from a single case of pop, to kegs and casks of beers. They also service pubs and other locations at which access is restricted. Marston’s now owns six breweries which, in line with its ‘local’ strategy, operate under their own names. The new Sprinters have been dispersed between these breweries and other depots nationwide, and will be maintained under Mercedes-Benz ServiceCare plans by the most conveniently located dealers. Air-conditioned and smartly finished in the company’s corporate black, they are equipped with audible reversing ‘bleepers’ and Safe-T-Bars, while their cargo areas benefit from LED lighting, load locks and rubberised linings to protect the ply from damage in the event that a heavy keg moves during transit. Kevin O’Rourke, who has worked for Marston’s for 25 years, was appointed Group Fleet Manager in July. “We have a decidedly mixed fleet of vans and trucks at the moment, with vehicles of all ages and just about every brand represented,” he said. “This situation is neither efficient, nor cost-effective, so we took a step back, conducted a full review of our distribution operation and concluded that a ‘one badge’ fleet represents the best way forward.” Marston’s embarked on a competitive tender process from which Mercedes- Benz and its dealer Midlands Truck & Van emerged as the winners. “As far as the vans themselves are concerned, we’ve had no qualms about committing to the Sprinter,” continued Mr O’Rourke. Marston’s raises a toast to Mercedes- Benz Sprinter Pallet network hits new heights TRANSPORTATION News www.midlandstruckvan.com For more information visit: www.palletways.com For more information visit: 76_Layout 1 10/11/2017 16:37 Page 1