Fife commercial laundry group Fishers Services is hoping a £4.4 million investment in its fleet of vehicles will help it clean up against its rivals.
The Cupar firm yesterday said the decision to replace 57 of its lorries, which each average more than 250 miles per day, was part of a wider £12m investment in the business over six years.
The initial phase of the fleet renewal programme will see it lease new delivery vehicles from commercial vehicle specialists Ryder on a mix of five- and six-year contracts.
The order is the first in a wider vehicle replacement strategy which will also see the company renew its trucks, tractor units and trailers over a period of time.
Managing director Bruce McHardy said the company’s vehicle fleet was a major cog in the overall business operation.
“This investment is key to continuing our offering as a national service, delivered locally, while at the same time improving our commitment to the environment by lowering our carbon emissions as a result of these vehicles’ more modern engines,” Mr McHardy said.
“As we grow our business across the UK, we recognise that our delivery fleet performance is fundamental to providing reliable, flexible services that our customers can trust.”
Robin White of Ryder said: “We look forward to working with Fishers to get the best performance from its new fleet.
He added: “We already have a successful working partnership with the company, and we’re delighted to continue this relationship going forward.”
Fishers is a major support player in the UK tourism sector, and during peak periods employs more than 800 people across seven locations in Scotland and the north of England.
Its commercial premises clean and press more than two million items of laundry every week, delivering them to a range of clients in the hotel and restaurant trade as well as to manufacturers and healthcare facilities.
Fisher’s client base includes major hotel chains such as Premier Inn, Holiday Inn and Jury’s, as well as some of Scotland’s most prestigious venues such as Gleneagles, the Caledonian Waldorf Astoria and Scotsman in Edinburgh, and the boutique Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin chains.