OK, we all sometimes have a craving for a Krispy Kreme doughnut. But Krispy Kreme had a different sort of craving.
It needed a stay on the road all day long van to make sure Krispy Kreme products arrived fresh from the bakery.
Enter the all-new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Krispy Kreme already runs 60 vans, all of which have insulated, ambient box bodies and column tail-lifts. But the doughnut makers has just taken on the first chassis cabs from the just-launched, third-generation Sprinter range.
These are recognisable from the reworked front end – slender new LED lights, a more upright windscreen and blistered wheel arches – the 314 CDI L3 long was fitted with its box body and 500 kg Dhollandia lift by Krispy Kreme’s regular supplier, All Style Bodies, of Reading.
While external revisions are relatively mild, new Sprinter has been transformed inside. The result is a car-like driving experience.
New Sprinter also breaks new ground thanks to its 4G Internet connectivity. This advanced manufacturer solution incorporates the Mercedes PRO connect range of fast, efficient and cost-effective vehicle management services, as well as the cutting-edge Mercedes MBUX infotainment system, which features a user-friendly voice control function that responds to “Hey Mercedes!” followed by the command, in conjunction with Navigation.
Delivered by the Mercedes-Benz East London Van Centre, Krispy Kreme’s new vehicle is the subject of a lease purchase agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and, like the operator’s other Sprinters, will be maintained under a Mercedes ServiceCare Plan.
Krispy Kreme’s UK headquarters are in Camberley, Surrey, and its distribution operation is based on a ‘hub and spoke’ model.
The vans work from 14 factories (‘hubs’), where its iconic doughnuts are made.
The company’s bright and comfortable Doughnut & Coffee Shops (‘spokes’) receive daily deliveries of fresh doughnuts, while the company’s drivers are also responsible for cleaning and replenishing the self-serve cabinets in many supermarkets and service stations.
Krispy Kreme’s National Transport Manager Ben Povey explained:
“Product freshness is integral to our success – if a doughnut is not delivered on the day it’s made then it doesn’t get sold, so time is precious.
“We simply cannot afford to have vehicles off the road, and this – above all else – explains why we choose the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It’s the ‘best in class’ in terms of reliability and uptime, and essential to the smooth running of our business.”
Krispy Kreme’s drivers start their shifts early each morning with approximately 4,000 doughnuts on board – the new Sprinter is operating from the company’s factory in Slough – and typically make 14 deliveries per day, the last of which takes place at around noon.
“The Sprinter has always been popular with those who use it, but the new model has raised driver acceptance to a completely new level,” declared Ben Povey. “It’s a real pleasure to be at the wheel, while for a company like Krispy Kreme, which is acutely aware of its Duty of Care obligations to colleagues and other road users, the additional safety specification can only reinforce our commitment to the Mercedes-Benz brand.”
He continued: “Efficiency is key to the smooth running of a logistics operation that entails delivering doughnuts fresh every day across the UK, so we’re certainly very interested in the potential benefits to be gained from the new Sprinter’s industry-leading connectivity. The enhanced fleet visibility which Mercedes Pro connect offers, and the obvious attractions of a ‘one-stop shop’ solution, mean this is something we’re going to be looking at very closely.”
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