Fairfax Meadow’s distribution operation has agreed a seven-figure deal with commercial vehicle fleet services company Fraikin.

The newly announced four-year full service contract hire agreement between the two companies, will see 38 Iveco Daily Agile vehicles, one tractor unit and five, 26 tonnes vehicles enter into service for Fairfax Meadow.

With the partnership now on it’s fifth renewal cycle, the latest contract cements an 18-and-a-half year commercial relationship between the two companies, with Derby based Fairfax Meadow’s first order with Fraikin placed in 1996.

The current order of vehicles replaces 15 new Daily Agile vehicles ordered in 2010, and will see 75-80% of Farifax Meadow’s entire fleet supplied and serviced  by Fraikin.

Mike Reid, group national transport manager for Fairfax Meadow, said: “We are delighted to be on our fifth renewal cycle with Fraikin and our latest commitment to 43 new vehicles will provide a significant bolstering of our fleet.

“Our previous deal to take on 15 new Iveco Daily Agiles proved a very beneficial decision to our distribution operation in London.

“They performed brilliantly, with minimal downtime, no gearbox replacements and five-figure savings each year. With that in mind, we have added more to the fleet and are set to have them operating across our various UK depots.

“Overall we enjoy a great partnership relationship with Fraikin, not your average supplier customer relationship. We have regular meetings and both companies always move quickly to resolve any issues and I think that’s why we have worked together for so many years.”

As part of the latest contract hire agreement, Fairfax Meadow will, for the first time, also take on four refrigerated trailers, set to go into service in November this year.

Fairfax Meadow is the UK’s largest national catering butcher organisation, operating out of seven national depots and making around 200,000 deliveries each year.

Picture caption: Left to right, Mike Reid, group national transport manager for Fairfax Meadow and John Cooper, strategic customer development manager for Fraikin.