Windermere, UK: Wholesaler McClures has expanded its temperature controlled storage and its fleet with Petit Forestier.
McClures is based the heart of the Lake District where strict planning controls limited redeveloping the existing site. A search for a new, larger headquarters proved equally difficult as the company wanted to retain its foundations in Windemere, where it champions local suppliers.
McClures has previously leased vehicles from Petit Forestier so turned to the company for leases on four cold storage containers. “The collaboration has not only enhanced the company’s storage, but the containers have played a pivotal role in the unprecedented growth McClures has seen coming out of the pandemic”, the company says.
Jeremy Cowan, transport manager, McClures, said: “Coming out of the first lockdown we saw our business go from barely ticking over to off the scale when people were unable to go abroad but could travel around the UK.
“The Lake District became a prime spot for holidaymakers, and we quickly found we were running out of storage space and struggling to meet customer demand. With not being able to easily build onto our current premises and the addition of not wanting to move away from our customers, it soon became an issue.
“With Petit Forestier’s cold storage containers, we have been able to meet the demands of our customers and stay local, without the need to invest resources into moving premises or going through lengthy planning applications. The containers are easy to install, and the reliability and ease of use have not only optimised our storage, but they’ve contributed significantly to our overall business growth.
The cold storage containers can be customised to specific business needs. “The only thing we have to do often is check that they’re still running! The containers are so quiet and bearing in mind we’re surrounded by hotels and guest houses; we have had no complaints about the noise the containers produce, so they really have been a perfect solution for us,” Cowan said.
Chris Algeo-Brown, head of cold storage solutions, Petit Forestier UK & Ireland, said: “Our cold storage offering is a testament to our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our customers including getting the containers to them quickly and then providing ongoing maintenance services from our Field based Refrigeration Engineers. We’re thrilled to offer McClure the most advanced solution for maintaining their cold chain.”
