JR Holland has appointed Solomon Commercials to deliver three new Mercedes 3.5 tonne Slipstream vehicles and four 7.2 tonne Ivecos.

The independent food supplier supplies more than 4,000 product lines to customers in the leisure, education, health care and public sector, making 4,800 deliveries a week.

The new 3.5 tonnes Mercedes use Solomon Commercials' Slipstream bodies, designed to JR Holland's requirements.

The company said the new vehicles increase aerodynamic properties and include undermounted GAH fridge, increasing the vehicle's payload.

The four 7.2 tonne Ivecos were designed to accommodate a 4.9m body with triple doors with a Thermoking V500. The new fleet also incorporates full road safety features.

John Holland company director said: “We are incredibly pleased with the new vehicles as the way the team at Solomon designed the bodies help us reduce fuel usage and has over a tonne payload.

“It results in us being able to carry more while reducing the number of deliveries but increasing efficiencies. It's a win-win solution for us."

Matthew Jones, sales manager at Solomon Commercials, added: "JR Holland is a well-established business in the Northeast and has built a reputation for providing the best fresh produce in the area.

"To deliver the best food produce for their customers, they need vehicles that will ensure the products get to where they should be in perfect condition.

“The new additions to the fleet will certainly do that as our team has designed them to meet our client's objectives, and it was a pleasure to work with the team at JR Holland on this project."

The Mercedes vehicles were supplied by Gary Stephenson at Bell Truck and Van and the Ivecos were supplied by Ian Hopkins at Northeast Truck and Van.

The new vehicles take the total fleet size to 42.