Belfast, Northern Ireland: Soaring demand from customers for its ultra-low fat, ‘guilt-free’ MillarMoo milkshakes prompted Northern Ireland’s Clarke Millar to buy a new fridge-bodied Mercedes-Benz 26-tonner.
The Actros arrived via Newtownabbey Dealer MBNI Truck & Van, which took back a pair of 7.5-tonne Ategos in part-exchange. Whereas the smaller vehicles could each carry half a dozen pallets of product, the new six-wheeler will take 16.
The acquisition was funded by Mercedes-Benz Finance. The Actros is a 2532L model with ClassicSpace S-cab and 7.7-litre in-line six-cylinder 320hp engine. It has rear air suspension and a tag axle – raising the back wheels improves manoeuvrability by reducing the turning circle and prolongs tyre life.
The vehicle’s single-compartment insulated body was built by Gray & Adams with a Carrier Supra 1150 fridge for cooling and 2 tonne capacity Zepro retractable tail-lift.
Proprietor Clarke Millar had spent 23 years working for the family bakery when he established the business that bears his name in 2012 making and distributing chilled and ambient foods.
Clarke Millar also relies on a three-year-old 13-tonne Atego and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans to supply customers in Northern Ireland. Deliveries to the Irish Republic and Scotland are entrusted to third-party providers.
Much of the company’s recent growth has been driven by MillarMoo and the soft drinks that Clarke Millar distributes under the Zumi brand.
“We’d reached the stage at which it made sense to commission a bigger truck in order to stay ahead of demand,” Millar said.
“I did also consider a Swedish vehicle but went with the Actros in the end, not least because our experience of running other Mercedes-Benz trucks and vans has been so positive.
“They’ve always been cost-effective to operate and exceptionally reliable – one of the 7.5-tonners we’ve just traded in was on a 12-plate and had been an excellent workhorse that never let us down.”
Norman Little was recruited specifically to drive the Actros. He has been driving for 36 years and is thoroughly enjoying his first Mercedes-Benz. “It’s a lovely truck and very comfortable indeed,” he said.
