FridgeXpress delivers first-ever 18-tonne refrigerated HGV to chilled food provider Brindisa

FridgeXpress has delivered its first-ever converted 18-tonne refrigerated HGV, marking a major milestone for the business as it expands its capabilities beyond light commercial vehicles and into the heavy goods vehicle market.

The vehicle has been supplied to Brindisa, a specialist provider of chilled Spanish food products supplying a range of supermarkets, delicatessens and restaurants across London. The HGV will support daily trunking operations between Brindisa’s Grantham site in Lincolnshire and London, strengthening the company’s high-capacity refrigerated requirements.

Historically focused on refrigerated vans and LCVs, FridgeXpress explored the opportunity internally and worked collaboratively across the Northgate Group to design and deliver a bespoke HGV solution tailored to Brindisa’s operational needs.

The project was delivered through close collaboration with Blakedale, part of the Northgate Group, which supported chassis procurement, servicing and HGV compliance, alongside specialist conversion partners. FridgeXpress remains responsible for the refrigeration system and temperature control, providing Brindisa with a single point of contact across the vehicle’s lifecycle.

The 18-tonne rigid vehicle is built on a DAF XB 260 FA 4×2 chassis and features a refrigerated box body conversion designed to support both frozen and chilled distribution. On board, a movable, gas-strut-assisted bulkhead allows the vehicle to operate as a dual-temperature unit or as a fully frozen or fully chilled vehicle, offering maximum operational flexibility.

With a maximum payload of approximately 7.8 tonnes, the vehicle includes side access, a tail lift and a split compartment layout, making it suitable for both long-distance trunking operations and regional delivery work.

The delivery builds on an established relationship between FridgeXpress and Brindisa, which already operates 11 refrigerated LCVs with FridgeXpress, including an electric vehicle. The move into HGVs enables Brindisa to keep its expanding fleet under one supplier, rather than introducing additional providers.

The 18-tonne vehicle is the first of its kind supplied by FridgeXpress and signals a broader expansion of the company’s offering, allowing it to support customers across the full refrigerated vehicle range. This includes the recent supply of a 7.5-tonne refrigerated vehicle to another customer, further demonstrating FridgeXpress’s growing capability beyond traditional LCV operations.

Adam Naylor, Managing Director, FridgeXpress: “This first 18-tonne HGV delivery is a significant milestone for FridgeXpress. While we have traditionally focused on refrigerated LCVs, this project shows how we are evolving alongside our customers and responding to their changing operational needs.”

Scott Steadman, Business Development Manager, FridgeXpress: “This opportunity came directly from an existing customer relationship, which made it particularly rewarding. Rather than saying no when Brindisa asked about 18t vehicles, we explored how we could make it work by collaborating across the group. The result is a highly flexible refrigerated HGV that supports frozen and chilled operations and allows the customer to keep their fleet under one supplier.”

Laz Altomare, Transport Manager, Brindisa: “Our entire LCV fleet is currently supplied by FridgeXpress, and we’re delighted to be able to continue that partnership as we introduce our new HGV requirement. Working with FridgeXpress has allowed us to bespoke our vehicles to our exact operational needs, while keeping the management of our fleet under a single supplier. The level of service, aftercare support and the strong working relationship with the FridgeXpress team were key factors in our decision to expand our fleet with them. Our Account Manager, Scott Steadman, is always quick to respond to any enquiries or issues and helps make the entire process seamless.”