New Canter’s a hot prospect for the Stovax Group
Continued growth prompted Europe’s leading manufacturer of stoves and fireplaces to add three new vehicles to its fleet.
The Stovax Group – which includes Gazco – has grown consistently since it began trading in 1981. It now offers one of the widest ranges of high-efficiency wood-burning, multi-fuel, gas and electric home heating appliances.
Faced with strong demand, Stovax has invested in a 7.5-tonne Mitsubishi Fuso Canter truck and two Mercedes-Benz Vito vans, all of which arrived via Exeter dealer City West Commercials.
The Stovax Group services a nationwide network of independent heating retailers, and also exports the products it manufactures on Exeter’s Sowton Industrial Estate to more than 50 countries worldwide.
City West Commercials was awarded its Mercedes-Benz franchise for the West Country a little over a year ago – the German manufacturer’s franchised UK network is also responsible for sales and servicing of the popular Mitsubishi Fuso light truck range.
Stovax’s new Canter 7C15 has a lightweight curtainside body by Bristol-based specialist AJ Bracey. Its Long-bodied 2.7-tonne Mercedes-Benz Vito 111CDI vans, meanwhile, were specified with optional air-conditioning and Comfort drivers’ seats; they represent extensions to the Stovax Group fleet and are now being used by service engineers and as training support units.
Although the three new vehicles represent its first acquisitions from City West Commercials, Stovax has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the dealer’s sister company, car and van retailer Mercedes-Benz of Exeter, and it now runs 11 commercial vehicles bearing the famous three-pointed star.
Rising energy prices have fuelled the growth in demand for Stovax’s and Gazco’s high-efficiency home heating appliances in recent years, as homeowners balance “getting the look” with controlling their fuel bills and staying warm.
Stovax and Gazco Group Associate Commercial Director Ed Henry reveals: “Over the last couple of years we have enjoyed a significant surge in demand and this year the trend has continued. These new vehicles will quite literally help to drive our ongoing growth.
“We chose the Canter for its market-leading payload, which makes it significantly more productive than any other vehicle in the 7.5-tonne weight segment and also helps us to minimise our fuel consumption and distribution costs.
“We can carry a full four tonnes on our new truck and its compact external dimensions mean it is also very manoeuvrable, which is a big advantage when it comes to moving quickly between our many local sites.”
He continues: “Mitsubishi Fuso and Mercedes-Benz vehicles have excellent reputations for quality, reliability and durability, while the service levels from Mercedes-Benz of Exeter have always been very high, and I’m confident the same will be true of City West Commercials.”
