What our clients are saying...

ALcontrol Laboratories, a leading environmental and food testing company operating in 11 European countries, operates a large fleet of temperature controlled vans in the UK and has had a long and successful relationship with GRP. Working together for nearly 10 years the two companies have developed an excellent working relationship based on high levels of customer service and cost saving innovation. 

ALcontrol specializes in testing soil, water, food, oil and air for contaminants or hazardous substances. They are the UK’s market leading food tester with laboratories in Rotherham, Spalding, Shrewsbury, Newton Abbot, Dunstable and Glasgow. This provides an unrivalled network of testing sites enabling them to reach all parts of the UK within 2 hours.

The nature of the testing done by ALcontrol means that volume and payload levels are low in most cases, but the accuracy of the temperature is absolutely critical.  ALcontrol supply and fit their own transport temperature loggers which link to their software and the vans supplied by GRP have always provided the necessary insulation to maintain the correct temperature throughout the supply chain.

Comments Janet Alexander, Procurement Manager, UK and I:

"The majority of the vans supplied to GRP by Gordons of Bolton (the supplying dealer) are Ford Connects and the most recent orders have been converted using the innovative ENVIROlite™ conversion process.  This has not only saved the company money, but also provided a more environmentally friendly and lighter conversion which has obvious longer term benefits for ALcontrol".

Adds GRP Sales Director, Lawrence Ness: “We are very proud of our longstanding relationship with ALcontrol and work hard to ensure that vehicles are delivered on budget, on schedule and most importantly to the highest specification.  This sector demands absolute accuracy and it is crucial that the vans are converted with great care and skill.  Our dedicated and long serving engineers ensure that quality is our top priority.”

For further information about ALcontrol, visit their website on www.alcontrol.com.

Pioneer Foodservice currently run a fleet of 50 refrigerated vehicles, supplying food products to the catering trade throughout the North of England and Southern Scotland.  Established since 1878, they also have a string of retail outlets across Cumbria, supplying the public with the same high quality meat and vegetables that the catering trade enjoy.

GRP have a long and successful relationship with Pioneer Foodservice and are delighted that this continues with their most recent order.

The vans are mostly dual compartment chiller/freezer vans, delivering Lakeland Beef as well as frozen, chilled and ambient products to their large and varied customer base.  The most recent vans however are a couple of Ford Connects with Thermoking V200 fridge units and built to chill specification. These vans are going to be used solely to supply chilled products to their customer base.

Graham Jenkins, Managing Director at Pioneer Foodservice says “ We have used GRP for all our panel vans for a number of years now and I am always mightily impressed with not only the finished product but also the professionalism and knowledge of their staff. We look forward to placing many more vehicles with GRP in the future.   “ 

The GRP Group are delighted to be consolidating their excellent relationship with this leading food supplier,

Comments GRP’s Lawrence Ness:

“It is vital for us to retain such distinguished and well established customers as Pioneer Foods.  They, like us, understand the importance of building and maintaining customer and supplier relationships over long periods of time.  The durability of our products and our excellent customer service is reflective in their continued choice to use GRP.  Long may it continue!”

The relationship between Rentruck and GRP has gone from strength to strength with its fridge van rental arm, Cool Running, recently ordering a further 4 new vehicles to boost its fleet. Rentruck which has been in the vehicle rental business for 90 years has seen a surge in fridge van rentals and is happy to place its business with the firmly established and market leading GRP Group.

Rentruck believes firmly that the market is only set to increase with more and more food producers keen to show their customers that they are taking the transportation of their products seriously. 

Richard Cotton, MD of Rentruck remarks; “In these times of heightened Health and Safety regulations, more and more companies need to invest in refrigerated transport.  Often the easiest way for them is to commit to an initial short term hire as their businesses develop.  We aim to provide them with quality, flexible fridge vans at a competitive rate, and working with GRP has allowed us to achieve our objectives. “  He adds “ GRP  provide us with high quality and durable conversions, all with standby and 75mm insulation, with GAH refrigeration units; ideal for the short and medium term hire requirements of our diverse customer base”

The latest vans ordered by Rentruck are a Long Wheel Base Mercedes Sprinter, a Medium Wheel Base Mercedes Sprinter and two Mercedes  Vitos; all with GAH refrigeration equipment and standby. As part of the deal GRP have bought back 3 vans which will be sold on through Kfacto  - www.kfacto.co.uk –  a  sister company which specializes in selling high quality used stock with GRP conversions.

Lawrence Ness of GRP says, “We have enjoyed an excellent, longstanding relationship with Rentruck, and in the last  3 years  this has been cemented by our ability to buy back stock, thus  guaranteeing a strong residual value”.

For further information about Rentruck, visit the company’s website on www.rentruck.co.uk or www.coolrunningrental.co.uk

GRP are very proud to have recently provided a second vehicle for quality meat suppliers, Lake District Farmers. This growing Cumbrian based business is dedicated to providing the UK’s finest restaurants with locally sourced, fully traceable beef, lamb and pink veal.

The two vans converted in the last 12 months have both been Ford Transits and the latest one has been a slightly larger model – medium wheel base, medium roof -  reflecting the steady increase in demand for LDF’s premium product range. The vehicles have been fitted with Hubbard refrigeration units and temperature recorders to ensure full transparency of product temperature monitoring.

Comments Lake District Farmers  Steve Winward: “I’d looked at various conversions and GRP’s was by far the best I’d seen. Even though it wasn’t the cheapest on price, when you look at the quality of the work involved the extra money paled into insignificance. We supply the top restaurants in London with such clients as Gordon Ramsey, Marcus Wareing and Michael Caine and it’s important that when we turn up at these places we have a van that represents a good image and this is what we have with the GRP vans.”

KCI Medical are a leading worldwide provider of healing technologies.  Their specific requirement from GRP was to convert vehciles  to carry hospital beds and ancillary equipment  between hospitals across Britain.

With our in house design team and extensive experience in building bespoke products we were able to listen to the KCI team and ensure that their requirements were fully met.

Comments Tonya Dunn, "Due to the nature of our operation, it is vital that our supply partners embrace our stringent requirements for quality and safety.  In GRP Group, we have found our expectations exceeded time and again. The conversions demonstrate strength and durability, with design features which enhance the transportation process for our own staff and in turn our valued clients".
 

Marbec Meats, based in North London, are a firmly established wholesale catering butcher, who have been dealing with GRP for over 20 years. 

The partnership has seen several changes in the vans and conversions chosen by the team over the years with  the latest orders being for Mercedes 313 Sprinters for chilled application with GAH refrigeration systems and temperature monitoring equipment.

GRP has also designed a spare wheel compartment fitted inside the load area which is hygenicaly sealed to prevent seepage.

Comments Martin Beckworth of Marbec Meats; "I have known GRP for several years and found the durability of their van conversions impressive over this time.  The knowledge and experience of the office staff means that I have confidence in what I am going to receive and when I will receive it.  So far I have not been disappointed.