Gold stars for cheese firm

26th February 2007, 0:08

A glowing recommendation from a trusted supplier prompted Dairygold Food Ingredients to invest in its first Mercedes trucks.

In 2005 Dairygold Food replaced its tractor unit with a new Actros 2544. It then returned to Enza, Warrington, in 2006 with orders for an 18-tonne Axor 1823 and a  7.5-tonne Atego 815.

Both the rigids and the tractor unit’s semi-trailer have Trumac temperature-controlled bodywork and Carrier refrigeration units.

Logistics Manager Lyndon Oakley explains: “One of our suppliers, a company that provides us with an excellent service, runs a fleet of Mercedes Sprinter vans and an Axor 18-tonner. They are very pleased with them and recommended Mercedes to us.

“When our previous tractor unit was up for replacement we went to the marketplace and Enza came back with the best quote, so we bought our first Mercedes.”

Ten months later, as business grew, the Crewe-based company found itself in need of another truck, this time an 18-tonner.

“We’d enjoyed excellent service from Enza – their communication with us and the after sales back-up had been exemplary. So with our supplier’s endorsement of its own Axor 18-tonner still ringing in our ears we had no hesitation in returning to Enza,” says Mr Oakley.

Dairygold has now completed the set by adding the 7.5-tonne Atego. All of its Mercedes trucks are the subject of five-year contract hire deals with
Mercedes-Benz CharterWay, the manufacturer’s in-house financial services division.

“We’re very happy with all of the trucks, and with the service we’ve received from Enza,” adds Mr Oakley.

Dairygold Food Ingredients supplies speciality and grated cheeses to supermarket chains, food manufacturers and catering suppliers across the UK and Ireland. Previously known as Haslington Cheese, it was bought by the Irish Dairygold Group five years ago, since when the business has grown rapidly.

http://www.dairygold.ie/