Mercedes-Benz UK Strengthens Links With Laverstoke Park Farm

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – June 19, 2009: Mercedes-Benz UK today announced its increasing partnership with Laverstoke Park Farm, the biodynamic and organic farm owned and run by former Formula 1 World Champion Jody Scheckter.

Laverstoke Park Farm already provides Mercedes-Benz World’s Gullwing restaurant with organic ingredients, and shortly the farm will take delivery of a revolutionary smart electric vehicle, for zero-emissions work around the 1500-acre site. Jody Scheckter will also drive a model from the low-emission Mercedes-Benz BlueEFFICIENCY range.

Wilfried Steffen, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd, explained: “What Jody Scheckter has created at Laverstoke Park Farm is remarkable. His farm approaches environmental responsibility in an intelligent way, and does so throughout the entire food chain.

"At every step, his produce considers what the best way of providing sustainable food is, while minimises its impact on the environment. The links with our fully electric smart are obvious, and the new Mercedes-Benz BlueEFFICIENCY technology also fits perfectly.”

The news comes as Laverstoke Park Farm’s logo, Mr Laverstoke, makes its first appearance on a Formula 1 car at this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The logo will appear on the rear wing endplates of both championship-leading Brawn GP cars.

Jody Scheckter commented: “I’ve been a Mercedes-Benz driver and customer for years, so it’s fitting that our Laverstoke Park Farm logo will appear at Silverstone on the F1 cars of another Mercedes-Benz customer!

“I’m delighted that the relationship with Mercedes-Benz UK is moving on to a broader basis. We already supply meat and mozzarella to their restaurant at Brooklands in Weybridge, but to have a zero emissions electric car on the farm will go some way to further reducing our carbon footprint. We’ll be generating our own clean electricity on site by the end of the year, so now seemed a natural time to take things further.”

The smart electric drive will be delivered this summer; Laverstoke Park Farm produce is available now from the Gullwing restaurant at Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey.