Allied Bakeries has significantly upgraded its delivery fleet with 36 rigid trucks and 32 tractor units, wrapped in Kingsmill livery.
The new vehicles will join the rest of Allied Bakeries’ fleet delivering its Kingsmill, Allinson’s, and Sunblest brands, along with retail partners’ own label bakery ranges. These are sent out around the clock direct to customers’ stores and regional distribution centres via a hub and spoke network that spans England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Additionally, the trucks will underpin the ABF-owned company’s position as a trusted partner delivering third-party goods – a role that grown significantly over the last year as it increased support for retail partners seeking to expand their bakery ranges.
Allied Bakeries’ customers will also benefit from the drivers being given upgraded handheld terminals to optimise deliveries, as well as from the operational efficiencies of a new fleet management IT system.
“We make 25,000 deliveries a week, taking fresh bread and bakery goods to every corner of the country and these new vehicles mean that we can continue to deliver the great service that our customers rely on,” commented Richard Hodgson, director of logistics & planning at Allied Bakeries.
“We’re also partnering with other bakers across the country to distribute their products more effectively and efficiently – benefiting the environment, our customers and of course, consumers,” Hodgson added.
The 9.7m-long, 19-tonne rigid trucks were designed by Tiger Trailers and built of XB 230 chassis from DAF Trucks. They incorporate a flat platform retractable tail-lift that allows bread delivery baskets to be easily loaded and unloaded. Other specifications include heavy-duty aluminium Bakadek flooring, a stainless steel rear frame, Magnelis floor bearers, a JR Industries shutter door at the rear, and a reversing camera.
Meanwhile, the tractor units are low profile FTP XD 6x2 models from DAF Trucks. Both vehicle types are said to use the latest industry technology to assist in bringing improvements in road safety, and in delivering lower rates of fuel consumption, and therefore lower carbon emissions.
DAF Trucks national fleet sales manager Joe Watson noted that the new DAF XB and XD vehicles were built at the Leyland Trucks assembly plant near Preston in Lancashire to the exacting specification of Allied Bakeries. “[They] deliver maximum fuel and carbon efficiency, safety features to help protect both driver and other road users, and to provide a comfortable and practical working environment which I’m sure the drivers will appreciate,” said Watson.
Allied Bakeries previously worked with Stoke-on-Trent based manufacturer Don-Bur to design a new generation of efficient, high-volume, box van double deck trailers, which were rolled out across the fleet earlier this year.
As part of its vision for the future, the company is currently running an electric truck trial out of its London site. “This latest EV pilot will provide further evidence as to how electric and other future technologies may fit in reducing our carbon footprint and our ambition in achieving net zero,” stated Allied Bakeries.
Back in September, HGV drivers working out of Allied Bakeries’ Sighthill depot in Glasgow received an inflation-beating pay rise worth up to 8.5%.
The manufacturer has also improved sales and operational performance over its most recent financial year, leading to ‘much reduced’ losses and contributing towards a 4% increase in overall grocery sales at ABF, which rose to £4.2bn.
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