£10,000 Fuel Saving As Classic Catering Switches To Isuzu

HATFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM – Dec 16, 2011: By switching truck brands, in this case to an Isuzu Forward 7.5tonner, Classic Catering estimates it will save in excess of £10,000 on its annual fuel costs. Classic Catering is a specialist patisserie manufacturer and distributor with a daily trunking operation from Manchester to London and the new Isuzu is already showing a 3mpg improvement in fuel economy over the incumbent brand.

This is the company’s first ever Isuzu in its 19-strong distribution fleet and the N75.190 4x2 rigid vehicle is covering over 2400 miles a week. It transports patisserie products from Classic Catering’s Manchester production facility to its London based distribution centre in Wembley.

Within the first month of service, the Isuzu returned a 3mpg improvement in average fuel consumption over the previous vehicle on this 6-day-a- week, 430 mile daily operation. Classic Catering anticipates this fuel saving will improve even further as the Isuzu settles into its working life. David Mincher, logistics and warehouse manager at Classic Catering explains, “We were aware of the Isuzu payload and impressive fuel economy before we bought the vehicle and everything we heard has materialised already with this first Isuzu. Almost immediately, we have been able to achieve a significant fuel saving and we are confident that the mpg figures will continue to impress us as the Isuzu beds in.”

Supplied by local Manchester Isuzu dealer, The Hulme Group, Classic Catering’s first Isuzu is specified with the manufacturer’s popular Easyshift transmission and to further assist the fuel economy performance; the Isuzu has been fitted with a full wind deflector kit. The Isuzu 7.5 tonner features a Coolfreeze 16 ft multi-temperature refrigerated body, together with a GAH SX7 multi-temp refrigeration system. Inside the front of the Coolfreeze body is a two-pallet compartment for frozen products whilst, at the rear of the body, the chilled compartment can hold 7 pallet loads of patisserie products.

With its head office and production facility in Manchester, Classic Catering is one of the U.K's largest manufacturers and distributors of specialist patisserie products. It has a portfolio of over 500 product lines supplied to customers that includes breweries, blue-chip companies, sporting venues, football clubs, hotels, restaurants and independent catering outlets.

“The Isuzu 7.5 tonner has all the key attributes required by Classic Catering for a distribution vehicle. Outstanding fuel economy compliments the acknowledged payload advantages traditionally associated with the Isuzu marque. Keeping distribution costs down is key to success in any business in this current economic climate and this is where our products score highly, making them ideal vehicle for this type of intensive daily distribution,” said Keith Child, marketing director at Isuzu Truck UK.