If you have been used to operating 3.5 tonners, then you would expect to get a much larger payload from a 7.5 tonner. Unfortunately this is not always the case – unless you opt for a lighter chassis like the Fuso Canter which has a body and load allowance of over 5 tonnes.
A new, high payload Canter, sourced from local Mercedes and Mitsubishi Fuso Dealer Rygor Commercials, has helped the Gloucestershire-based craft baker emerge strongly from the pandemic.
The Authentic Bread Company commissioned its first 7.5-tonne truck to help it meet increased demand from its two biggest wholesale customers, both of which have seen significant growth in their home delivery businesses as a result of successive lockdowns.
The Canter 7C15 model employs a 3.0-litre common-rail turbodiesel that produces 150 hp. The chassis was supplied from stock by Rygor Commercials and its curtainside body was built and fitted by JC Payne, in Walsall, West Midlands. It is being inspected and maintained under a Mercedes-Benz Finance contract hire agreement by the workshop team at Rygor’s branch on the Railway Triangle development in Gloucester.
Upsizing from a Sprinter
Rygor had previously supplied The Authentic Bread Company with two curtainside-bodied 3.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis cabs. The latest of these was retired to make way for the Canter.
In addition to Rygor’s dedicated support, The Authentic Bread Company was attracted to the 7.5-tonne Canter by its reputation for reliability and durability, and its market-leading carrying capacity – as specified by the operator with five-speed manual gearbox and 3,850mm wheelbase, the 7C15 offers a combined body and payload allowance of 5,100 kg, roughly a tonne more than a conventional chassis with the same gross weight.
The Authentic Bread Company was established in 1995 by former BT engineer Alan Davis, a passionate baking enthusiast. He created one of the country’s first organic bakeries in a converted garage alongside the family’s rural home.
Sales 400% Up
More than a quarter of a century later the company remains true to its organic values, producing a comprehensive range of breads, cakes and savouries with home-baked flavours. Alan is still Managing Director and his wife Jane a Director, while their son Alex is Operations Manager and daughters Emily and Sophie are, respectively, Commercial Manager and Technical Manager.
Alex Davis commented: “We’d been expanding steadily and having long since outgrown our previous base had already resolved to move to new, bigger premises. However, the Covid pandemic prompted a further spike in demand.
“At one point last year our sales were 400% up on the corresponding period 12 months earlier. The good news is that our major customers appear to have retained much of the new home delivery business they took on during lockdowns – once people have tasted our delicious, wholesome products, they invariably come back for more.”
He continued: “The Canter’s impressive carrying capacity has been instrumental in enabling us to meet all of this increased demand. We work the vehicle hard – it’s contracted to cover a quarter of a million kilometres over three years, and runs constantly between our bakery and customer locations in Andover and Devon.”
The operator’s vehicles are out on the road from Sunday to Thursday each week. “When workshop visits are due they always go in on a Friday so we don’t suffer any downtime,” said Mr Davis. “Rygor’s collection and delivery service is very handy.
“Meanwhile, on the rare occasions that we’ve had an issue with one of our Sprinters the Dealer has responded quickly and efficiently. I’ve every confidence that we can look forward to the same level of aftercare with our first FUSO Canter.”