One of the UK’s top pub businesses and a leading brewer of premium cask and bottled beers has tapped into the efficiency and customer-focused back-up of Mercedes-Benz by ordering 84 new trucks.
Marston’s Beer Company, which operates from headquarters in Wolverhampton, is calling time on its previous, multi-marque secondary distribution fleet after embarking on a new partnership with the three-pointed star.
The company’s 200 drays deliver to managed houses and third-party customers. In line with its ‘Think local’ strategy, they wear the liveries of the breweries and brands to which they are assigned.
Marston’s conducted a detailed tender process before committing to Mercedes-Benz. Dealer Midlands Truck & Van has already supplied 30 highly bespoke vehicles, all of which are fully air suspended and have curtainside bodywork by Don-Bur, of Stoke-on-Trent. Most are 26-tonne Antos 2530 LnR models with low-height frames and lifting, rear-steer axles. This initial batch also includes six 15-tonne Atego 1521s and a trio of 12-tonne Atego 1218s.
Marston’s has since placed follow-up orders for a further 54 trucks. As before, Antos six-wheelers – one of which will pull a drawbar trailer – account for the majority of the vehicles, but the brewer is also taking five 18-tonne Antos, along with more 15- and 12-tonne Atego.
With roots that stretch back 180 years, Marston’s Beer Company is the country’s leading brewer of cask ale, and runs around 1,700 pubs nationwide. The company’s acquisition in May of the Charles Wells Brewing Business, whose beers include Bombardier, Courage and McEwan’s, means it now operates six breweries throughout the UK, each of which trades under its own name.
Tony Cheater was appointed to the role of Regional Logistics Manager two years ago, and spearheaded a comprehensive review of Marston’s distribution operation with the enthusiastic support of new Logistics Director David Nijs.
“We were running a real ‘Heinz 57’ fleet,” recalled Mr Cheater. “Individual depots had been purchasing their own vehicles, many of which were pre-owned and then refurbished, while we’d inherited others through acquisitions. They were all maintained by manufacturers but with so many different makes of truck, we also had to manage multiple service contracts.”
The momentum towards a new, centralised fleet structure was given added impetus by the proposed introductions of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London, and Clean Air Zones in other cities. “A lot of our vehicles were getting quite old,” explained Tony Cheater. “This meant that not only was it becoming more expensive to keep them on the road, but also that before long we would not be able to access these urban centres.”
Marston’s drew up a list of ‘must have’ criteria for its new trucks. Two-pedal set-ups were essential, and the Antos and Atego both employ the well proven, fuel-efficient Mercedes PowerShift automated transmission. The company’s focus on health and safety meant full air suspension was also required, so deck heights could be lowered to make life easier for team members ‘handballing’ kegs and barrels on and off by hand – some of the six-wheelers are additionally fitted with 1.5-tonne Dhollandia cantilever tail-lifts. For optimum manoeuvrability, meanwhile, the 26-tonners must also have steered back axles.
Mr Cheater continued: “We whittled it down to a shortlist of three. However, it quickly became clear that Mercedes-Benz was the only candidate able to supply vehicles with the specifications we required, in the quantities we needed, within an acceptable timeframe and at the right price.”
Purpose-designed for distribution operations, Marston’s new trucks feature an extensive safety armoury which includes reversing cameras and audible proximity alarms. Meanwhile, drivers benefit from comfortable, ergonomically designed ClassicSpace cabs with multi-function steering wheels.
Crucially, Marston’s has embraced Daimler Fleetboard telematics technology. As well as providing valuable data on the vehicles themselves, this is used to reinforce learnings from a programme of training now being delivered by Midlands Truck & Van to drivers out in the field.
The new trucks are now being inspected and maintained under Mercedes-Benz service contracts by the most conveniently located members of the manufacturer’s Dealer Network, which are also providing collection and delivery support.
All work is carried out overnight and at weekends. “Our vehicles were previously serviced during the day, so we had to keep spare vehicles as cover for when they were in the workshop,” said Tony Cheater. “Under the new arrangement with Mercedes-Benz, this is no longer necessary.”
David Nijs added: “Our job is to provide Marston’s customers with great beer – trucks are tools we rely on to do so. Mercedes-Benz Trucks Key Account Manager Tom Morris and his Midlands Truck & Van counterpart Richard Mason have provided exceptional service over the last year.
“Both understand that we don’t always have a lot of time but have never been pushy; instead, they’ve been highly professional, friendly, and interested in what we do, liaising with our preferred bodybuilder Don-Bur to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
“We felt from the outset that rather than looking for a quick sale, the Mercedes-Benz team wanted to build a long-term partnership. As a result, we’re now well on the road towards our ultimate goal of a complete fleet of smart, compliant, efficient and easily-administered Mercedes-Benz trucks.”
