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Fresh and organic food specialist Soyfoods is always conscious of the impact of its operation on the environment, which explains why it is one of the first customers for the new, low-emission, Mercedes 7.5-tonner.
The Leicestershire company took delivery of its BlueTec Euro 4 Atego 816 before the latest round of EU emissions legislation came into force on October 1st.
Supplied by Leicester dealer Mertrux, the truck has a light-weight refrigerated box body by LE Jackson (Coachworks), of Loughborough, and a GAH refrigeration unit.
The new Atego 816 offers improved performance in comparison to the 815 model it has replaced. Output from its 4.25-litre powerplant is up from150hp to 156hp, while torque is increased significantly, from 580Nm to 610Nm.
Soyfoods has been manufacturing and distributing organic food for three decades. Known to many as Paul’s Tofu, or simply Paul’s, the company started out in London and then moved in the early 1980s to its current base in Melton Mowbray.
Proprietor Paul Jones says: “We’ve always run Mercedes vehicles because they’ve proved over the years to be very robust and reliable. This is particularly important when you’re running fridge or freezer bodies which can drain engine power – a lot of other vehicles can’t take it.
“Our experience confirms that Mercedes trucks also command strong residual values,” continues Mr Jones, who also runs a second Atego 7.5-tonner and a 4.6-tonne Sprinter, both of which are now a couple of years old.
“The Euro 4 Atego carried a price premium in comparison to the Euro 3 model which I could have bought at the time,” he concedes, “but I took the view that it was worth paying the extra and going for the latest technology.
“We’re operating in a sustainable business market. Our customers are concerned about their environmental ‘footprints’ and so are we. It’s my belief that, sooner or later, there will be some kind of carbon tax and rightly so; we all have to take responsibility for our actions.”
The new truck is now being double-manned and delivering through the night – Soyfoods’ drivers have key access to customers’ premises – to health food shops, restaurants and even private households in London and along the A1/M1 corridor. Typically, it will make up to 40 ‘drops’ on each round trip.
Although the Atego it replaces had a sleeper cab, the new arrival has a day cab, chosen to maximise its load-carrying potential. Inside, are two individual seats with a ‘cubby’ storage box between them, rather than the standard, three-seat arrangement.
Other features designed to make life more comfortable, enjoyable and safe for Soyfoods’ drivers include a high-quality sound-system with extra speakers in the headlining, roof-mounted spotlights and fog lights, a reversing camera and a chassis-mounted storage box, while the front axle and alternator have been uprated and a high-capacity, 180-litre fuel tank fitted.
Soyfoods is buying its AdBlue – the non-toxic, aqueous reduction agent required for the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) adopted by Mercedes-Benz as the best means to achieve Euro 4 and 5 – from local supplier Brobot Petroleum.
As previously, Soyfoods has signed up to a five-year Mercedes-Benz repair and maintenance contract. “We normally move them on before this expires,” adds Mr Jones, “as it underpins the residual value of the vehicle.” |
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