Yaris replaces vans on Cork's fleet

ONE of Britain's biggest merchandising companies, Cork International, has switched its 200-strong fleet of vans to the Toyota Yaris car.

Previously the company used the Toyota Hiace vans to deliver its products to retail outlets daily or weekly, but it is now spending more time checking and merchandising the goods and liaising with store managers, while the products are delivered by an outside contractor.

Cork supplies non-food items to more than 4,000 retail outlets, including supermarket chains and motorway service areas.

Cork's finance director Colin Trigg said: 'This is the biggest operational change at Cork International for 20 years. It is also a step up for the staff, who become first-line sales people rather than glorified delivery drivers. It's a better quality of job that requires sharp, high-calibre staff.'

The company's drivers are now expected to spend less time driving, and with more efficient routes will cover 20-25,000 miles a year instead of the 30,000 to 40,0000 miles they drove before.