The trucks have been supplied by North West-based business Tiger Trailers, and will help deliver bread to 18,000 stores around the country each day.
Warburtons first approached Tiger Trailers in the winter of 2022, setting out the specific way in which it needs its trucks to be designed. In response, the vehicle manufacturer developed a bespoke, intelligent and ergonomic vehicle with durability and accessibility as cornerstones of the build.
Built on a 14-tonne DAF chassis from supplier Lancashire DAF, each vehicle is fitted with Warburtons-specification racking along its sides, along with adjustable centre aisle load bars to suit the baker's loading requirements. The trucks also possess crew doors on each side of the body’s rear to expedite the loading process, access to which is covered with a hinged alloy floor section, which helps maximise load capacity.
Meanwhile, the Dhollandia tail lift aids drivers with large loads, and the two Labcraft B3 Banksman reversing lights help in low-light conditions. Tiger Trailers also completed the paintjob in-house.
The first 10 of the 38 vehicles were delivered in late 2023 and are now operating across the Warburtons nationwide delivery network.
“It has been reassuring to have been involved throughout the design and manufacturing process,” said Steve Gray, head of transport at Warburtons.
“We have taken delivery of 10 of the vans already and are very impressed with the final product. We are looking forward to a further 28 due joining our fleet in spring this year.”
Tom Stott, technical sales manager at Tiger Trailers, added: “It’s been a pleasure to work closely with Steve and his team at Warburtons. At Tiger we are proud to offer competitive lead times, and guarantee a premium product without compromising on quality. To have done so for one of the UK’s most-recognisable brands is something to be celebrated, and we are hopeful to build on the relationship we have established with Steve and Warburtons in the future.”
In other news, a Welsh food wholesaler is planning to create 150 jobs and open a new depot as part of its £6m expansion plan.
