Scotland’s favourite bakers, multi-award-winning McGhee’s Family Bakers, have recently updated their fleet with a dozen new MAN TGE delivery vehicles.
The new vehicles, all carrying the iconic company livery of red cab and white body, with a traditional baker’s toque hat over the McGhee name, are all fitted with bespoke tailor-built box bodies.
To help maximise the company’s delivery function and reduce part load running, each vehicle has been tailor-built to carry standardised confectionery and bakery trays. These trays form the backbone of McGhee’s delivery service and are accepted widely within the bakery industry.
Joining a fleet of 80 vehicles, the new TGE’s will deliver McGhee’s freshly baked products to all the major national high street retailers such as ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons, plus selected Co-op, Scotmid, B&M, SPAR, Iceland and One-O-One stores. This is in addition to the many independent retailers across Scotland, that have been the foundations of the business for more than 70 years.
Stuart McGhee, Sales Director, D McGhee and Sons Ltd, said, “As we bake our produce fresh daily, both overnight and into the early hours, when considering new fleet replacements, we needed to work with a vehicle manufacturer whose vans were reliable, robust, trustworthy and turnkey ready at all times. We’ve seen and heard a lot of positive comments from other MAN TGE users, both locally and further afield, so we were delighted by MAN’s professionalism throughout.
“It’s paramount that our vehicles have the support of a dedicated commercial vehicle dealer network, a network that both understands our requirements and recognises our business model, offering extended network opening hours to support us through the night if needed.”
Stuart continued, “It was clear from our initial conversation that MAN offers a consultative and partnering approach to customer service. This started by offering knowledgeable and balanced advice as to what model would best fit our operation and why. MAN’s commitment to customer care really shone through once the vehicles started arriving in the UK, with their local van sales executive David McColm delivering the vehicles directly to the bodybuilders, ensuring the entire bodybuild process went seamlessly.
“The vehicle preparation, PDI and delivery process went without a hitch too.” Added Stuart. “Our requirement to work with a partnering supplier and have our vehicles ready at all times, was clearly taken onboard.”
Offering a car-like driving experience McGhee’s New TGE’s are all specified in rear-wheel drive configuration with six-speed manual transmissions. Powered by the latest generation 4 cylinder, 160 bhp EU6d 2.0 litre, low consumption, diesel engines, each vehicle is based on a 4,490 mm wheelbase factory-built chassis cab.
“To ensure our produce is delivered fresh our vehicles are on the road making their deliveries throughout the early hours of the morning, so to ensure our drivers have a safe and relaxed working environment the vehicles we operate must be secure and comfortable,” explained Stuart. “Looking at the TGE’s interior it’s easy to see why they are so popular with the drivers, the cabs are well laid out offering a car like driving experience, quiet and present a relaxing drive.”
Designed around the driver the MAN TGE offers a bright, airy, safe, and secure workspace. Bringing driver comfort and safety to the fore, each of the vehicles features ergonomically designed seats, spacious and practical storage solutions, cup holders, USB ports and advanced infotainment systems. Driver safety, a key area of McGhee’s business, is met in the form of all vehicles being equipped with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), ABS, ESP, Crosswind Assist, Multi-collision Brake and Hill-assent Assist. Forward and rear-facing cameras have also been fitted across the fleet and to further help maximise visibility the vehicles were ordered with extended mirror arms.
Each of the vehicles has a fiberglass deflector fitted on top of the cab to aid with aero efficiency and help maximise fuel efficiency. Sitting on top of the chassis is a galvanised frame on top of which sits a 4,850 mm long, 2,400 mm wide and 2,600 mm high body, featuring a wisadeck floor, translucent roof panel and a slide-out rear step.
Spread across Scotland McGhee’s offers a range of bakery goods, baked and served fresh to service the local community. With over 100 products being produced daily, the award-winning Crispy Rolls potato scones, pancakes, crumpets, empire biscuits, donuts, yum-yums, topped off with a full range of celebratory seasonal products. They also supply a range of fresh and frozen goods to food service, retail and wholesale markets.
Founded in 1936, by Dugald McGhee, McGhee’s original bakehouse was in Maryhill Glasgow. In the 1950s Dugald’s sons Jim, Calder, Douglas and Gavin joined the company all becoming directors during the 50s and 60s. In 2005 McGhee’s Bakers moved to a state-of-the-art purpose-built premises in Port Dundas, a facility which has seen considerable investment and is still the Head Office. Over the years McGhee’s has both grown and invested in the business which today includes bakeries in Kilmarnock and Motherwell and depots in Dundee and Edinburgh.
Today the family business is led by the third generation of McGhee’s, Gordon, Ian and Stuart, alongside the fourth generation Aisling, Russell and Grant, who are continuing the family’s proud track record of providing quality products, both value and luxury, through a genuine passion for craft baking.
David Mccolm, MAN Truck & Bus UK, Van Sales Executive, said, “It’s been a delight to work with McGhee’s Bakers. We placed two TGE’s with McGhee’s, at their Kilmarnock facility back in 2021, these have performed well and have lived up to everyone’s expectations. Having a relationship with Stuart McGhee spanning a decade I was delighted to work with him again on this order of 12 new vehicles.
“It’s crucial to understand our customer’s needs and their requirement to have vehicles on the road in the early hours and to support them. Put simply, fresh produce means fresh and if the vehicles are in the workshop, the shelves aren’t stocked, and the produce isn’t fresh.”
McGhee’s Bakers’ new vehicles were PDI’d and prepared by MAN Truck & Bus Bellshill. Throughout their working lives these new vehicles will be serviced and maintained by the MAN Truck & Bus dealer network.
All MAN vehicles are supported by MAN Truck & Bus UK’s Nationwide Commercial Vehicle Dealer network, with many operating extended hours, including round-the-clock servicing and customer-tailored solution maintenance.
The entire MAN range benefits from MAN’s Mobile24 24-hour assistance service, which guarantees customers a professional roadside partner throughout Europe 365 days of the year.
