Total Foodservice Solutions is readying to receive its latest vehicle conversions from CoolKit five years after switching to the temperature-controlled vans specialist.
The Clitheroe and Huddersfield-based food wholesaler first approached CoolKit to provide its specialist temperature-controlled vans in 2019 and has since driven away 22 conversions. Another five conversions will leave CoolKit’s factory over the next two months.
Total Foodservice Solutions specifies a niche build, which consists of lightweight multi-drop vehicles with multi-temperature compartments and superior twin-evaporator refrigeration unit – featuring one evaporator in the chiller compartment and one in the freezer – as well as a fixed bulkhead with a heavily insulated, lightweight side slab doors.
The wholesale catering business needs its vehicles to always work to their full potential especially during the summer months and the exclusive specification ensures optimum load quality.
Other key factors in the switch to CoolKit were a better-built, lighter conversion in conjunction with the superior uptime commitment provided by way of CoolKit’s own team of mobile transport refrigeration engineers, should any in-service issues arise.
Total Foodservice Solutions also now specifies CoolKit’s CurtAir air curtain option as standard after successfully trials.
Mark Thornton, Total Foodservice Solutions transport and distribution manager, said: “The air curtain was a big decision as we had always relied on PVC strip curtains as temperature control is paramount, but our experience with the air curtain has been nothing but positive so we spec these on every vehicle now.”
Total Foodservice Solutions’ fleet consists of three 3.5-tonne GVW Mercedes Sprinters in both medium- and long-wheelbase, and thirteen 5-tonne gross weight vans. These are run across both sites and used for multi-drop deliveries to a wide variety of customers such as cafes, schools, care homes, as well as servicing contracts with two breweries – Thwaites and JW Lees.
The CoolKit-converted vehicles can be seen all over the North West, Yorkshire Dales and West Yorkshire, as well as when servicing key accounts in the South West, the Solent and Wales.
Mark Thornton said: “I turned to CoolKit as I wasn’t happy with our bodybuilder at the time and CoolKit was making the headlines in the industry.
“I was invited to the factory by sales account manager Mark Beaton. During a tour the full build was explained and I was also informed about the materials used with weight and cost-saving ideas which have been incorporated in the builds.
“We placed our first order for delivery in 2019 and have continued ever since.
“The communication is top-notch and our relationship with CoolKit has been an honest and transparent one from the beginning. I can call or email anytime and am kept up to date with builds and their progress.”
