The latest Isuzu 13.5 tonne rigid truck at Japan Centre Group in London is now the fifth Isuzu to be working in the company’s nine strong commercial vehicle fleet, servicing their retail and restaurant businesses that promotes Japanese products and Japanese culture here in the UK.
This Isuzu multi-temperature refrigerated rigid is handling daily deliveries from Japan Centre Group’s main warehouse to its retail sites and restaurants, providing a daily delivery service to the two London outlets and a weekly delivery to its restaurants in Oxford and Manchester.
The connection between Japan Centre Group and Isuzu Truck goes back to 2016 when they purchased their first Isuzu 7.5 tonne rigid truck. Since then they have added a further two Isuzu 7.5 tonners to their fleet, as well as a 3.5 tonne Isuzu Grafter.
The decision, this time, to specify the higher GVW 13.5 tonne Isuzu F135.240(E) model reflects the growing business levels at Japan Centre Group, where the higher payload capacity allows them to operate more efficiently on its expanding delivery routes.
Prior to acquiring the new 13.5 tonne rigid, Japan Centre Group visited long time Isuzu operator Reynolds Catering to look at their 13.5 tonne Isuzus, in more detail, and the visit proved to be most useful as it helped determine the final specification and operational features for the Japan Centre Group truck.
Tomohiro Nakayama, head of logistics and supply chain operations at Japan Centre Group explains,
“Back in 2016, we talked to several truck manufacturers about our future fleet requirements but overall, in terms of payload and efficiency, we felt that the Isuzu would give us the best options. This has been proven over the four years that we have been operating them. Today as our business has expanded, so too has our requirement to move up the weight range for our distribution vehicles. The first Isuzu 13.5 tonne rigid has just started working for us and this vehicle allows us to provide a far more efficient and economical daily delivery service by using the spacious multi-compartment specification for frozen, chilled and ambient products in one truck.”
All the Isuzu rigids have been supplied to Japan Centre Group by Reading based Isuzu dealer Cordwallis Commercials (Reading) Ltd. The latest 13.5 tonne Isuzu features air suspension as well as the popular Easyshift automatic transmission as standard. The truck has also been specified with a Gray & Adams multi-temperature refrigerated body that has a Thermo King T-1000R Spectrum refrigeration system with Whisper kit, supplied by Marshall Fleet Solutions.
Japan Centre Group estimates that the new vehicle will cover about 15,000 miles per annum so will be operational for many years within the company’s distribution fleet.
Established in 1976, the Japan Centre Food Hall is a well-loved institution situated in Central London with two other retail sites in Westfield Stratford City and Westfield London, it also has restaurants in both Oxford and Manchester. The Japan Centre Food Hall has always been passionate about delivering a rich variety of quality Japanese goods to shoppers in the UK and beyond, and now also offers its products through a thriving online store.
“Although we have a strong cultural and heritage connection, the Isuzu rigids must prove their value to the Japan Centre Group on a daily basis, by providing a reliable and efficient delivery service. This is where the proven Isuzu strengths of class leading payload and reliability ensure that all the company’s retail outlets and restaurants each benefit from the best possible service from all its Isuzus, day in, day out,”
said Richard Waterworth, head of sales, Isuzu Truck UK.
Full details about the full Isuzu truck range from 3.5 tonne to 13.5 tonne can be viewed on the ITUK website on www.isuzutruck.co.uk
