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A coveted ‘preferred van supplier’ contract clinched by Birmingham Mercedes-Benz dealer Gerard Mann Commercials with Britain’s largest independent parcels carrier, brought a special windfall for one courier company.
Thanks to the new deal, APC Overnight is now able to provide its 128 depots nationwide with access to vehicles from the award-winning Mercedes Sprinter and Vito van ranges at highly competitive prices.
To celebrate the new partnership, APC, which has headquarters in Essington, near Wolverhampton, invited key staff from Gerard Mann to attend its annual conference at The Renaissance Hotel, in Birmingham, where they delivered a presentation on the contract.
Highlight of the event was a prize draw that gave members of the APC network the opportunity to win a brand new, Medium length, high-roofed Mercedes Sprinter 311CDI. The £20,000 van was donated by APC, with funding support from Gerard Mann and Mercedes-Benz.
Sporting APC Overnight’s striking new corporate livery, the Sprinter has now entered service with Leeds-based depot and prize draw winner Abacus Express.
Gerard Mann has delivered 60 Mercedes vans to APC Overnight since the two companies began doing business together last year. Now, having formalised the ‘umbrella’ supply deal, the momentum is really picking up, and orders are flooding in from depots all over Britain.
APC’s members together operate more than 1,000 vans, so the opportunity for Gerard Mann is huge. Although its depots are not obliged to invest in the legendary three-pointed star, the market-leading quality of Mercedes vehicles, coupled with the competitive prices negotiated centrally by APC, make this option highly attractive.
Explaining the decision to team-up with Gerard Mann Commercials, APC Overnight General Manager Mike Dewick says: “The Mercedes Sprinter and Vito are the most stylish, reliable and well-built vans available today, as well as offering a host of high-tech safety features.
“The service we receive from Gerard Mann is also exceptional, and in little over a year a highly successful working relationship has flourished between our two companies.”
He continues: “This is a very exciting time for APC Overnight, following our recent rebranding and a £2-million investment in a new IT delivery system providing drivers with state-of-the-art handheld devices. This will give us a unique, competitive edge in terms of data and signature capture delivery solutions.”
Chris Cubitt, New Business Development Manager at Gerard Mann Commercials, says: “APC is a leader in the overnight parcels delivery sector and a highly professional organisation. We have put a lot of time and effort into this partnership and are delighted to be appointed APC’s preferred supplier of vans.”
Tony Kenway, Depot Manager at Abacus Express, adds: “We’re really pleased with our new Sprinter. It’s a great looking vehicle and the high, side-loading door makes access really easy, while our driver Ellis Brown now wears a broad smile all day. This is our first Mercedes but we’re so impressed that we’re now planning to convert our entire fleet of 14 vans to Mercedes-Benz.” |
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