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Supermarkets are picky customers, so Huntapac Produce has high compliance standards for its vegetable distribution operation
Working for demanding customers puts compliance and fleet care at the top of a list of an operator's priorities.
Huntapac Produce of Preston produces and delivers fresh vegetables to the RDCs of the UK's major supermarket chains. Teseo, its first customer, accounts for about 60% of its work. "Our customers keep us on our toes," says transport manager John Bell. Other customers include Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Aldi. "All the supermarkets really," adds Bell.
Compliance challenge
Teseo carries out compliance audits on its hauliers, and Huntapac's systems are more than capable of meeting the challenge. "They picked a bag of carrots and traced it back to the field it came from, when it was packed, which depot it went to, which fridge and tractor it was on, the service details of those two units and the employment details of the driver," says deputy transport manager Debbie Langten.
Huntapac is also a member of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which sets standards for the handling and distribution of food. BRC carries out an annual check of Huntapac's operation. "BRC ensures you comply with health and safety, with good fresh food sent on a clean vehicle," says Bell.
The 52-vehicle fleet, a mix of DAFs, Scanias and Mercedes-Benz, is leased and the vehicles replaced every three years. So pristine are the units that Bell says: "When we return them, they can't believe we've had them for three years." Refrigerated units are replaced every five to six years.
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