It’s not every day a Wrights Food delivery van is used as a weight, but that’s precisely what happened when the UK’s Strongest Man deadlifted a 2.5 tonne vehicle. 

Eddie Hall, 27, performed the six-second feat before a 200-plus crowd in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent on on Saturday, 3 October. 

The event was organised by Wrights Food Group, which is sponsoring Staffordshire-born Hall, also known as The Beast, in his quest to become the World’s Strongest Man in 2016.

Hall said: "I have a big local connection with Wrights, and the event was a fantastic way to launch our new partnership. It was an absolute pleasure to give something back to all of my Stoke supporters.”

Hall posed for selfies, signed autographs and answered questions about his diet and training regime.

“We’re thrilled to be supporting Eddie in his mission to become the World’s Strongest Man, given his local roots and sheer talent and determination,” added Alison Hardin, retail operations director for Wrights. “We hope our wholesome meat and potato pie will help provide the muscle machine with an all-important hit of protein ahead of future strongman events.”

Family-run Wrights was founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1926 and now has 18 retail shops across the Potteries and North Staffordshire, selling Wrights pies, savouries, sausage rolls, sandwiches and cakes.

The family business also supplies its fresh, frozen and ambient products to independent bakers, supermarkets, and convenience stores among others.