Sainsbury’s has successfully achieved accreditation to the Van Excellence scheme, managed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

The award marks the satisfactory attainment of the demanding standards of the Van Excellence Code, agreed by a governance group of leading van fleet operators.

Sainsbury’s is the first supermarket to achieve the standards and has become the 25th business to receive Van Excellence accreditation since the scheme was launched in 2010. Over a hundred van fleets have now registered with Van Excellence, operating between them over 100,000 vehicles.

Van Excellence was voted the best new service of the year at the 2012 Fleet News Awards last month.

Mark Cartwright, FTA’s Head of Vans and Light Commercial Vehicles said: “Sainsbury’s is the UK’s second largest online grocery retailer, delivering over 165,000 orders a week worth over £750 million per annum.

“It has a fleet of 1,400 vans operated by over 4,000 drivers. Achievement of this standard has been a significant investment in hard work and commitment by the company and we congratulate Sainsbury’s on their successful accreditation.

“We look forward to working with them and the members of the Van Excellence Governance Group to maintain and develop the reputation of van operations with the public and the Government.”

Cartwright continued: “There are over 70 other businesses at various stages of applying for accreditation and we expect to be announcing other successful awards in the near future.”