Refrigerated van manufacturer CoolKit has been praised for its rapid response service amid the pandemic after it helped VMS Fleet Management deliver 80 converted vehicles for essential needs.
The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a huge growth in online shopping and home delivery services, and Hertfordshire-based VMS was inundated with requests from both big brand supermarkets and foodservice providers together with smaller operators who were looking to rapidly expand their fleet size and service offering.
The firm required external support to help convert vehicles quickly and efficiently and called on long-standing partner CoolKit, which had worked with VMS on 300 conversions over the last three years.
Martin James, managing director at VMS, said: “When Covid-19 hit and our customers came to us for help in expanding their fleet, we were confident that CoolKit could assist us in meeting our customers’ expectations.”
While CoolKit was operating with a skeleton workforce, the firm ensured an immediate response. The vans requiring conversion covered a mix of Citroën Relays, Renault Masters, Mercedes Sprinters, of which 50 needed to be fitted with the Alex Original transport refrigeration system, which VMS Refrigeration is the sole UK distributor for.
CoolKit converted 10 vans a week – ensuring VMS was able to supply customers within required timeframes – while still ensuring staff safety through social distancing and coronavirus safety protocols.
Glenn McCulley, CoolKit’s sales and marketing director, said: “VMS needed a partner who was still open for business and who could carry out builds at speed. We responded as one of the few convertors open and were ready to pull out all the stops to complete the conversions for such a loyal customer.”
Martin James concluded: “CoolKit was able to pull together their teams and work to deliver the required converts to our vehicles, while also keeping their workforce safe in an extremely unprecedented environment. We knew we could rely on them to provide fast, quality services to meet ours and our clients’ needs, and we thank them for mobilising so quickly to assist us.”
