Krispy Kreme has taken delivery of one of the first of the new third-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis cabs.

The 314 CDI L3 long cab, which features a reworked front end with slender LED lights, a more upright windscreen and blistered wheel arches, was fitted with a box body and 500 kg Dhollandia lift by Krispy Kreme supplier All Style Bodies of Reading.

Krispy Kreme runs 60 vehicles with gross weights of 3.5, 5.0 or 5.5 tonnes in the UK, all of which have insulated, ambient box bodies and column tail-lifts.

Mercedes-Benz said the new Sprinter cab offers the most car-like driving experience yet seen in a van, with “unrivalled levels of comfort, quietness and smoothness”.

It also has 4G Internet connectivity incorporating the Mercedes Pro Connect range of vehicle management services, as well as the Mercedes MBUX infotainment system that has a voice control function.

Krispy Kreme drivers start their shifts early each morning with around 4,000 doughnuts on board and typically make 14 deliveries per day, the last of which takes place at around noon.

“Product freshness is integral to our success – if a doughnut is not delivered on the day it’s made then it doesn’t get sold, so time is precious,” said Krispy Kreme national transport manager Ben Povey. “We simply cannot afford to have vehicles off the road, and this – above all else – explains why we choose the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.”

“Efficiency is key to the smooth running of a logistics operation that entails delivering doughnuts fresh every day across the UK,” added Povey.