Collins Seafoods lands an eco-friendly Mercedes catch

A County Durham company committed to supplying fish from certified sustainable species has proved its environment credentials once again, by investing in two low-emission Mercedes-Benz vans.

Collins Seafoods’ 5.0-tonne Sprinter 513CDI and 3.5-tonne Sprinter 313CDI both feature Euro 5 engine technology – Mercedes-Benz was the first van manufacturer to achieve the tough new EU emissions target.

As well as being cleaner and ‘greener’, Euro 5 Sprinters are smoother, quieter and more powerful, and significantly cheaper to run.

Collins Seafoods supplies more than 10,000 tonnes a year of prime quality ‘Frozen at Sea Fish’ to fish and chip shops and wholesalers across the UK and Ireland from its warehouse at Newton Aycliffe, and coldstores in Grimsby.

The company uses its own vehicles to deliver to customers as far north as Berwick-upon-Tweed, west to Cumbria and south to the Leeds/Bradford area. Deliveries further afield are carried out by a third-party contractor.

Billingham dealer Bell Truck and Van supplied Collins Seafoods with its new Mercedes. The 5.0-tonne Sprinter Long was fitted with an insulated body and freezer unit by RVL Northern, of Bradford. A similar body was supplied for the Medium-length 3.5-tonner by Solomon Commercials, of Rossendale,Lancashire.

Collins Seafoods also operates four more Mercedes vans. “We’ve been running Sprinters for at least 10 years and have always been impressed with their quality and reliability,” confirms Operations Director Claire Swinbank. “The prestige associated with the three-pointed also underpins our own image as a leader in our field.

“Our drivers love the fact that their Mercedes are so comfortable and easy to drive – in fact, if you put them in another make of van they hate it.”

The Sprinter’s long-service intervals, three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and high residual values convinced Collins Seafoods to buy its new vans outright, rather than contract hire them as it has done previously.

The 3.5-tonne Sprinter came with a free Mercedes-Benz Service Package. Under this, all labour costs, materials and lubricants required in routine servicing by a franchised dealer will be covered for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever is reached first. Collins has upgraded this cover to 125,000 miles, and has also signed-up to a three-year repair and maintenance contract for the 5.0-tonne Sprinter.

The company is delighted with the service it receives from Bell Truck and Van and its sales executive Simon Cahill. “We’ve dealt with Simon for a long time – he understands our operation and the vehicle specifications we need, which makes it very easy for us,” adds Claire Swinbank. “Bells also service our vehicles overnight, so they’re always available for use when we need them.”