Sussex brewery Harveys is the county’s oldest independent brewer. Now in its eight generation of family ownership, Harveys has been making ale for 225 years.
The firm still operates a horse-drawn dray for local deliveries and promotional events, but needs something a little more modern to keep pace with customer demand for its beer.
Harveys’ flagship Sussex Best Bitter has been voted Champion Best Bitter of Britain for two consecutive years, while Harveys has also scooped 23 world beer awards since 2010 and 29 international beer challenge awards since 2009, and its Imperial Extra Double Stout won its 16th award in 16 years at this year’s World Beer Awards.
Naturally such highly-regarded products need to be reliably delivered. Harveys has traditionally operated a mixed fleet of trucks and vans to do this job, but he firm’s transport manager, Bob Sawyer, appears to be planning a shift to a Mercedes-based fleet.
Harveys has just purchased its first Mercedes, a long wheelbase Sprinter 313CDI and a 9-tonne Atego truck.
Mr Sawyer is clearly a Mercedes fan and has plans to expand the presence of the three-pointed star as existing vehicles are defleeted:
“I’m keen to move away from our current mixed fleet arrangement. Provided the deals remain competitive and the vehicles reliable – which I’m sure they will – it’s our intention as we phase out our older trucks and vans over the next couple of years to replace them with more new Mercedes-Benz vehicles.”
Harveys maintains its vehicles in-house but dealer Rossetts Commercials (of 6×6 Sprinter and 4×4 Vito fame) will supply parts and has also undertaken to provide its mechanic with training and specialist equipment.