The Co-operative Group has taken delivery of 330 new Carrier Transicold refrigeration units to coincide with the final stage of development at its RDC in Andover, Hampshire.

The order includes 171 Supra 950 multi-temperature systems mounted to 18- and 26-tonne Scania rigids, and 159 Vector 1850 units fitted to Gray & Adams refrigerated trailers.

The units will join a “full-strength fleet” at the Co-op’s 467,000ft² Andover facility, which opened in July 2011 and handles 1.3 million cases of fresh, frozen, chilled and ambient products every week for delivery to 400 stores in the South.

The Vector 1850 MT unit is designed for intensive use where high capacity is needed and will be used for regional trucking as well as deliveries to Co-operative stores.

Carrier says the Supra 950 MT unit is “the most powerful Carrier truck-mounted system that meets UK specifications, making it ideal for The Co-operative’s busy fleet, which carries out the bulk of deliveries to urban stores”.

Ken Thompson, group transport manager at The Co-operative Group, says: “Carrier’s Vector technology, in particular, has transformed the temperature- controlled market in recent years, and we welcome the extended service intervals and consistent fleet uptime that it helps us to achieve.”

The new vehicles and trailers are expected to remain in service with The Co- operative for the next seven years. They join the Co-operative Group’s temperature-controlled fleet, which includes more than 550 rigid trucks, 900 trailers and 600 tractor units.

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