Gray & Adams News WINTER 2020
In This Issue > Interview with Dave Higgs of Blakemore Logistics > On the Double: Greggs Launches First Ever Double Deck > Five Years of TCS&D Success ISSUE 12 | WINTER 2020
Contents
Introduction
Contents 2
Despite the many difficult and wide-reaching challenges of 2020, the Gray & Adams team continues to shine. It is through their personal commitment to customer care, dedication to finding a better way and determination to provide best-in-class solutions that we can continue to drive our business forward and deliver for our customers.
Introduction 2 - 3 Coping With Covid-19: Group Update
4-5
The Big Interview: Dave Higgs of Blakemore Logistics
6-7
Five Years of TCS&D Success
8-9
On the Double: Greggs Launches First Ever Double Deck
10 - 11
Staff Spotlight: Scott Dunbar
12
Supplier Spotlight: Haldex
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Customer Case Studies: Avara, Oakland, Turners of Soham & Gist
14 - 15
Shop Local: The Urban Delivery Challenge
16 - 17
Gray & Adams Celebrate 2020 Top Track 250 Success
18
Kenny Stewart: Half a Century of Service
19
A Lifetime of Value: Long Service Thanks
20
Welcome to the Team
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As the current situation regarding Covid-19 continues to evolve, we wanted to share a group update (Pg. 4–5) to highlight on our continued vigilance and focus on measures taken to ensure the safety of our people across all sites throughout the pandemic. As we navigate this ongoing challenge together, we would like to thank our people, customers, partners and suppliers for their continued support. This edition sees an interview with Dave Higgs of Blakemore (Pg. 6–7) and an article about the first ever double deck built for Greggs (Pg. 10-11), as well as an article from Group Engineering Manager, Ian Smith, which focuses on the changing engineering requirements of delivering in urban environments (Pg. 16-17). Our recent success at the 2020 Temperature Controlled Storage and Distribution Awards (Pg. 8-9) is an important source of recognition from our industry. Gray & Adams’ continued nomination and success at the TCS&D Awards has recognised our collective achievements in providing best-in-class products, expert support and building a lifetime of value for our customers.
We are thrilled to have won the Refrigerated Trailer of the Year Award for the fifth time and winning the Customer Service Award for the first time this year is an important moment for our business. It highlights our dedication to going above and beyond for our customers – something we are immensely proud of – thanks to our team for all that they do in this regard - this award represents your hard work and dedication. We were also delighted to see Sam de Beaux, formerly of Gist, win the Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his legacy of engineering and dedication to the cold chain. Our congratulations go to Sam on winning the award!
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Royal recognition: Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Mr Sandy Manson, visited Gray & Adams to formally present the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. The prestigious award was accepted by Peter and James Gray, on behalf of Gray & Adams.
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Additionally, this issue of our newsletter shares a fond farewell to Kenny Stewart (Pg. 19), who worked at Gray & Adams in Fraserburgh for 49 years and recognises long service from George Davidson, Wes Scott and Glenn Gibson (Pg. 20). We also extend a warm welcome to two new senior members of staff (Pg. 20), as we say hello to HR Manager, Vikki Robson (Fraserburgh), and Finance Manager, Paul Wickenden (Doncaster), who we are delighted to have on the team.
al Virtu
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Given these unprecedented times, we wish you all the very best of health over the festive period and hope you have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year, as restrictions allow. In 2021, we renew our commitment to our people as well as our customers. We plan to remain at the forefront of innovation, customer service and high-quality craftsmanship and we are excited to share that with you as we move onwards and upwards together. We hope everyone has a well-earned rest over the holidays and we look forward to seeing you safe and refreshed in the new year, ready to do more of what we do best. JAMES AND PETER GRAY JOINT MANAGING DIRECTORS
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Coping with Covid-19: Group Update Given the enduring impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across the UK, we remain rigorous and consistent in our approach to both the management and development of our sites throughout the Group, in order to safeguard the wellbeing of our team and maintain continuity of service for our customers. With safety at the forefront of every planned decision made during the pandemic so far, there are some processes that have been in place since the very beginning. For instance, PPE is provided to all staff, including high-vis vests featuring social distancing messaging, disposable gloves, masks, visors and goggles. With some close proximity work unavoidable, Gray & Adams also offers staff air-fed hoods as a further precautionary safety measure. From one way systems, to socially distanced working practices, controlled movement, multiple additional toilet and handwashing facilities, temperature checks, hand sanitiser dispensers, alternative parking for staff and the closing of communal spaces (such as lockers and canteens), there was a lot done in the early stages of the pandemic, as Gray & Adams prepared to re-open in May. Since then, the business has progressed with further stringent measures and continued positive success stories in managing the pandemic safely at each of its facilities. However, as each site is subject to different local lockdown rules, some solutions and practices have varied throughout the Group.
DUNFERMLINE At Dunfermline, staff have been working a two-shift system from 6am to 2.30pm and from 3pm to 12am since April to ensure minimal staff are on site and within the facilities at any one time. There are also strict cleaning rotas in place with additional cleansing through the use of fogging machines to disinfect the facility after each shift. With a marquee outside to create a socially distanced canteen, the team have implemented staggered breaks and have been doing regular surveys about staff perceptions of safety in their work environment, with feedback from the surveys remaining overwhelmingly positive. Additionally, a major investment in ensuring the welfare of their team, is the purchase of a new site to complement our existing site in Dunfermline, 2.5 miles from the current location. After renovations, the Dunfermline team will be able to return to a one-shift system when work begins in this new space. IRELAND One of the leading lights in terms of implementing the processes and practices to get safely back to work in early May, the Ireland team has done equally well at managing and maintaining safe working measures. With outside meetings, one person per office rules, regular safety reviews from the management team, staggered breaks, verification logs and daily temperature checks as staff enter the facility. DONCASTER At our Doncaster site, teams are also working shifts to ensure staff can maintain social distancing. It has its own track and trace system, like Fraserburgh, and implements regular staff training and refresher training on safe working processes, with stringent cleaning timetables and facility disinfection through fogging. The Doncaster team has also allocated ‘team bubbles’ to allow for safe and socially distant access to communal staff areas, such as the canteen, at staggered intervals.
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There is also an 22,500 sq. ft. new building currently in development at Fraserburgh, primarily to facilitate manufacture of Double Deck Trailers and to release facilities in the existing site. In addition, the team have worked hard to source British-built equipment for the new facility from UK businesses, to help support the economy during this challenging period. Overall the Group has been measured and responsive in its operations at every site and the management team has been impressed with the dedication and agility of its staff in following the rules to the letter. James & Peter Gray, Joint Managing Directors, said,
FRASERBURGH The Fraserburgh team has installed over 40 hand wash basins throughout the site and have additionally installed a further 20 toilets in Fraserburgh to replace the temporary facilities which were in place when preparing to re-open in May. The team there have also been working a two-shift system, similar to Dunfermline and Doncaster, to minimise numbers of staff on site at any one time.
“As the current situation continues to evolve, our teams will continue to uphold our rigorous safety procedures and maintain the safety of our people. We would like to thank every member of our team for their commitment to following these new procedures and processes as we navigate this ongoing challenge. We are proud of the work we have done so far and encourage all of our staff to remain vigilant, agile and responsive to ensure that we can continue to build on the work done so far to keep our sites, and each other, safe.�
An internal mail system was implemented to further minimise movement throughout the facilities and they have had a track and trace system in place for some time, which has been extended to additionally monitor delivery drivers who enter the premises. Further to this, the team have installed 30 automatic temperature readers around the factory and office to replace the hand-held readers which were in use earlier this year. The stores team has instigated a pre-booking system to ensure kit is in place and ready for exactly when it is required. Though canteens are not all fully open, one of them is back in operation with a reduced number of seats for social distancing and a pre-booked carry out service is in operation, where staff can order hot food.
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The Big Interview: Dave Higgs of Blakemore Logistics
How do you feel the Blakemore Logistics business aligns to the Gray & Adams business?
How long has Blakemore Logistics been working with Gray & Adams?
We are both family run businesses and that is something that really contributes to the culture we work in. Blakemore’s success has been built upon a distinct ethos, focused on positive and friendly relations with staff, customers and the communities it serves. Gray and Adams is very similar in this regard.
I’ve been with Blakemore Logistics for 12 years and the relationship was well established before I began working here. The relationship has been going strong for over 20 years and it’s as good now as it’s ever been.
What services do Blakemore Logistics provide and in which sectors?
We have something which we call ‘The Blakemore Way’ - it helps us to define our culture. It underpins our approach to business and puts into words what the company stands for. When we work with Gray & Adams, it’s clear that we stand for similar things and work in a similar way - with honesty, integrity and people at the core of our business offering. That really comes through in our relationships and interactions with the Gray & Adams team.
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd began life in 1917 as a counter-service grocery store and has grown into a company that now employs more than 7,300 people with a turnover of circa £1.1 billion. Food and drink have always been a huge part of the business and the group now includes retail, wholesale distribution, food service, logistics and shop fitting divisions. We’re also the largest division of SPAR UK.
What challenges do you see the industry facing at the moment?
What have been the impacts of Covid-19 for Blakemore Logistics?
The biggest challenge at the moment are the changes to legislation which direct the industry to move away from diesel by 2040. Every five to ten years or so in my career, I have witnessed our industry adapt to big changes like this. Whatever challenges have come, we’ve found a way to keep delivering. From the London restrictions and Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to fleet compliance. It’s challenging but we’ll get through it.
Blakemore Logistics has had some good and some challenging outcomes throughout the year. For SPAR, given the nature of its traditional position as the local shop, the effects of Covid-19 and the shift in public shopping habits to be focused more locally, has been really good for sales. Conversely, our Food Service division has found it difficult. From pub and school closures hugely affecting our distribution to the associated challenges of having teams on furlough. It began to recover in August and we brought our staff and drivers back from furlough, but we have seen a slow down again in October and November, which is what we are dealing with in that side of our business at the moment. In Logistics, we’ve been really lucky and didn’t have to furlough anyone. So, it’s fair to say that Covid-19 is still having an ongoing impact for us, as it is with many, many other businesses in our industry and beyond.
My biggest fear is the skills gap in our industry and how we can ensure we get the right talent coming through the ranks. It’s getting harder and harder to attract young people into the industry. For some reason, it’s not as appealing as it should be. For me, it’s different. I got into the transport industry in 1989 - when I left school. I started on the shop floor and went from the transport office to loading vehicles, working my way up. I’ve seen a lot of change in the way that we operate now, compared to 30 years ago. What I know for certain is, we’ll find a solution as an industry. We always do.
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What are the key innovations in the industry in 2020 from your perspective? There are some really interesting developments within electric and gas-powered vehicles, and also some different advances in refrigeration which I think will be pretty exciting for our industry in the years to come.
How does Blakemore Logistics ensure it always stays at the forefront of industry innovation? We’re very lucky at Blakemore Logistics and I have a great relationship with our procurement department. Part of my role, along with our fleet engineer, is to go out into the market and get the best. It’s not always about price for us as our trailers need to last from 10 to 15 years. As a business, we look for innovation, durability and quality - which Gray & Adams has always delivered for us.
Are there any other key drivers which will impact how your fleet evolves moving forwards? Of course, Brexit and the associated tariffs that may arise as a result of Brexit will have an impact on what we do going forward. Over time, we have to go through a process of replacement or refurbishment in our fleet. To safeguard our investment, we’re now looking at, and considering, the needs of the group as a whole, rather than creating individual specifications for each division. This overview helps us to manage how our fleet is evolving together for the whole Group.
How important is sustainability when considering the specifications of your fleet and how does Gray & Adams help you to achieve this? It’s a huge element of our fleet. We need everything to last a really long time. For our rigids, we need a minimum of 10 years and we want 12 to 15 years out of our trailers. You need sustainability to do that.
Finally, your thoughts about the overall service and aftercare received from the Gray & Adams team?
We’ve looked at everything - from electric fridges to aerodynamics, roof spoilers and side skirts. The added value we get from Gray & Adams is that they are inclusive at every stage of the process; they advise us of what is best for us and they are always honest. They’re very transparent and may tell us that we can have this or that, but will also suggest when they wouldn’t recommend a solution due to, for example, the damage it will incur in our operations. Sustainability is always at the forefront of our conversations and the level of their understanding of our business is not to be underestimated.
It’s excellent - an inclusive process unlike any other that we’ve experienced. When you meet the team, the directors – they look after you all the way through the process. They’re embedded in our business and I can go direct to the top if I need to. Like the Blakemore team, they have a way about them. You always know you’re dealing with a Gray & Adams person - they’re reliable and consistent and their service is second to none. It’s one supplier I have genuine pleasure in dealing with.
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al u t r i V
Five Years of TCS&D Success Gray & Adams’ position as the UK’s leading supplier of temperature-controlled semitrailers and rigid vehicle bodywork has been proven once more at the 2020 Temperature Controlled Storage and Distribution (TCS&D) Awards, winning a fifth back-toback Refrigerated Trailer of the Year Award. On Wednesday 18 Nov 2020, at an online awards ceremony (due to the Covid-19 pandemic) which celebrated many industry successes in a challenging period for businesses, Gray & Adams won the Refrigerated Trailer of the Year Award for the fifth year in a row at the TCS&D Awards. It also took home the Customer Service Award for the very first time,
This year, Gray & Adams has won two industry awards, highlighting its on-going commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and customer service excellence. With a commitment to customers that goes above and beyond the exceptional lifetime of its products, winning the Customer Service Award for the first time, is an accolade it is proud to celebrate. As a business, Gray & Adams has enjoyed several reasons to celebrate in recent months, having won a 2020 Queens Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its double deck trailers and inclusion on The Sunday Times Top Track 250 League Table in September this year, following previous Top Track 250 success in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
celebrating Gray & Adams’ dedication to going above and
James and Peter Gray, Joint Managing Directors
beyond for its customers.
at Gray & Adams, commented:
The awards recognise companies and individuals who
“Gray & Adams has always had a strong business ethos
have made a difference in the temperature-controlled
built around people, quality and innovation. Winning these
storage and distribution industry, and Gray & Adams’
awards in such a challenging year throughout the UK is
continued nomination and success at this event has
testament to the commitment of our expert staff, who work
recognised its achievements in providing best-in-class
tirelessly to provide engineering excellence, industry leading
products, trusted expert support and building a lifetime
customer service and aftersales care that is second to none.
of value for its customers.
Their endless commitment to building innovative, bespoke
Gray & Adams has a hugely successful history at the awards, having won its first two awards in 2016 for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) of the Year and Refrigerated Trailer of the Year. It then went on to win awards for Refrigerated
products which set the standard for quality, delivering expert support which adds value to our customers and a clear focus on developing the best industry talent, has facilitated our success and growth over the last 60+ years”.
Rigid of the Year in 2017 and 2018 and further Refrigerated Trailer of the Year Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, as well as the Innovation Award in both 2018 and 2019.
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Awards Won
Lifetime Achievement Sam de Beaux of Gist retired this year, having built a legacy of engineering excellence throughout his career. His commitment to the cold chain is admired by all at Gray & Adams, and we send our congratulations to him on winning the Lifetime Achievement Award!
Customer Service This award showcased project insights and feedback from our customers about the quality of our customer service and aftersales care, including case studies on our work with Gist and Turners of Soham. Many thanks to Kevin Rampley of Turners of Soham for his support in winning this award and congratulations to him on winning the Refrigerated Fleet Engineer of the Year Award! Additionally, congratulations to Gist on winning the Partnership Award for its work with Starbucks.
Trailer of the Year With a long-standing relationship spanning over many years, Gray & Adams are a key supplier for The John Lewis Partnership in enabling them to fulfil their commitment to customers to delivering the best quality food and produce to its customers. This award featured our Tri-Temp Lifting Deck Trailer for Waitrose.
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On the Double: Greggs Launches First Ever Double Deck Greggs is a strong and trusted brand that has become a customer favourite for food-on-the-go. The key to its large share of an extremely competitive market is twofold, keeping pace with changing customer buyer behaviours and successfully operating from over 2050 shops. An enabler of its agility and scale is having full ownership of its supply chain. Only by management of its own supply operations, has it been able to react and develop the custom-made, flexible products required to deliver exactly what its customers need, across a vast number of locations. Since 2007, Gray & Adams has been Greggs’ partner of choice for developing bespoke cold chain delivery solutions and helping to deliver high volumes of product mixes which meet the demands of its customers. To this end, across the last five years, Gray & Adams has designed a new generation of solutions, which ultimately increase the payload Greggs can deliver on a single run.
Customer Challenge Due to the demand for greater economies of scale and environmental efficiencies, Greggs wanted to deliver higher volumes of product in a single journey. Unfortunately, due to the mix of products delivered from its multiple manufacturing sites, the desired double deck solution would have reached maximum weight restrictions before it was at capacity. Therefore, Greggs needed Gray & Adams to develop an interim solution, which delivered higher volumes than its current rigids and 13.6 metre trailers. Greggs engaged with a re-development of its manufacturing process and altered the set up at their Newcastle facility, adding a fully automated freezer solution to existing frozen production and utilising the site as a consolidation centre. This move enabled the business to create a product mix for transport that could make use of the maximum capacity of a double deck solution. Following this, the project was for Gray & Adams to develop their first ever double deck trailer. The solution required to stick to tight height restrictions on both decks. This was due to the use of non-standard pallet sizes and the need to interact with existing moving and handling equipment. The solution also required dedicated temperature control for both decks and the ability to seal one deck once loaded, so the other deck could be loaded without impacting the temperature of the now-full deck. Environmental performance was also a necessity, as was durability, with the trailer’s lifespan specified as ten years minimum. Finally, with food safety paramount to operations, all finishes had to be capped to guard against food contamination.
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Working Collaboratively With this being Greggs first double deck trailer, it was a step into the unknown. Gray & Adams facilitated a trial of a Co-op double deck trailer and visits to Asda and Reed Boardall to view their double deck fleets. This was done to help Greggs clarify how a double deck trailer might work in its business.
The Solution As an interim solution for increasing volume, Gray & Adams developed a number of 15.65m trailers for Greggs, bringing it to the maximum number of this vehicle permitted in a fleet by law. The following double deck solution met the exacting specifications required. With just millimetres to play with, our engineering team ensured the unit was the correct height with dedicated temperature controls and deck sealing for multi-temperature operations.
The design development of the trailer took a significant period of time and collaboration to finalise, mainly due to rapidly changing product mixes and operations as a result of business growth. The design process saw an incredible amount of on and off-site meetings between Greggs, Gray & Adams and multiple sub-contractors, to review and react to the changing requirements.
In terms of environmental performance, the trailer is fitted with a R452A gas fridge, a wedge air deflector on the front and low noise systems throughout. For example, low resistance flooring with a smooth tread which offers less noise when loading. Finally, all fittings are capped, or spot welded, to ensure they don’t break off or impact on the transported product. The trailer is the solution required to increase the volume Greggs can deliver, and it is a great example of the bespoke engineering solutions that Gray & Adams offer.
Testimonial “Our new double deck trailer, which Gray & Adams have designed and built, will give us a 54% saving on our current standard 13.6 metre trailers and reduce our Co2 emissions. It has taken five years for us to work with them to understand and overcome the operational challenges of our supply chain and design a double deck solution that works. It is a truly bespoke solution. As usual, the final product is also of an exceptional build quality. Their products are built to last. We need to run our trailers for ten years for them to be cost efficient, so they have to be able to work hard and last. This is one of the key reasons we go to Gray & Adams.” ANDY HUTCHINSON, GROUP FLEET MANAGER, GREGGS
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Staff Spotlight: Scott Dunbar How long have you been working for Gray & Adams and what is your role? I’ve been here for a year and my role is QHSE Manager, in which I manage and maintain our standards in quality, environmental and health & safety ensuring we stay compliant in our operations at Dunfermline.
What attracted you to the company initially? Simply the advert for the role initially and then through some research on the website I learned the background to the business which made the role even more attractive and aligned to my experience. Having worked in manufacturing in previous roles, I really like the process environment, with a whole team effort to get a final product together and get it out for our customers.
Tell us about your greatest achievements whilst working for Gray & Adams Well, I’m not sure we could have prepared anyone for the events of 2020 but it has been a challenging yet hugely rewarding experience to work through it in my role at Gray & Adams and be a part of solving issues around our working environment for the business. One thing that I’m particularly proud of is working to put in place a cloud-based management system for Dunfermline. We know that this will pay big dividends for efficiency when it’s up and running and could offer further opportunities for our other sites in the future, if it is successful.
What current industry innovation impresses you the most and why? Looking at all the awards and achievements of the business over the years is really impressive – it just shows how Gray & Adams is at the forefront of design and manufacture in the UK. No one thing stands out, it’s just great to see how we are a forward-thinking and innovative company.
How do you ensure customer service excellence for our customers? On the quality side of my job we look at internal quality processes and we also do a lot of Health, Safety and Quality audits, I recently just completed the legal compliance audit of over 40 Acts, Regulations Codes of Practices and Guidance. We consistently and regularly review manual procedures, training records and do a gap analysis to ensure we can increase the skills of the team. Everybody shares the responsibility for setting the standard for customer service excellence and it’s really a huge asset to the business just how accountable everyone is for ensuring we always deliver for our customers.
If you could do someone else’s job (at Gray & Adams) for the day, whose would it be and why? I’d love to be one of the truck drivers – I was in the RAF as a driver and examiner, teaching people to drive the RAF vehicles. Sometimes I miss getting behind the wheel, but I eventually gave up my licence, though I absolutely loved it. I think that, compared to my RAF experience, the vehicles nowadays are so technologically advanced and comfortable that it would be fantastic to see what they are like to drive.
What is the best thing about working for Gray & Adams? Certainly, the variety within my job keeps me on my toes and excited about coming to work each day. I’ve been lucky to have lots of support from Calvin Morrice and Bryan Easton since I began and people all over the business have been very welcoming, so I have thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the culture at Gray & Adams and being a part of the team.
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Supplier Spotlight: Haldex We sat down with Brian Robertson, Original Equipment Manager at Haldex, to discuss their role in the Gray & Adams Supply Chain. What does Haldex do? Haldex provides innovative braking solutions to the global commercial vehicle industry, primarily for trailers, with a focus on enhanced safety, environment and vehicle dynamics. We are a pioneer of safe braking products.
How long have you been part of the Gray & Adams supply chain? We have been working with Gray & Adams for over 40 years. It is renowned for its quality and customer support – it is vital that its suppliers buy into that ethos. As a business, we are very aligned to this and that is why we have been partners for so long. We recognise it is not simply all about the initial purchase price but also the performance of our products and the quality of our service.
What are the key opportunities and challenges facing the industry? Total cost of ownership was a focus for all businesses but, given current financial pressures due to Covid-19, it has taken on an even greater level of importance. Therefore, reduced downtime and ensuring products perform for their expected life span, is now a crucial deliverable for all suppliers. This is something Gray & Adams is very good at, likewise, so is Haldex. For example, we are about to release a new electronic braking system (EBS Generation 4) that offers incredible durability and, in turn, a low cost of ownership.
How can Gray & Adams ensure even closer integration of their supply chain in the future? If I was to improve what is an already a very strong supply chain, I would possibly increase supplier access to feedback from end users. That is how we can focus on continuous improvement, new features and make our parts for Gray & Adams’ products even better.
Finally, your thoughts about the overall experience of working with the Gray & Adams team? We have a good relationship. We support one another to ensure the best outcomes for our businesses and for the customers too. We share a commitment to offering great customer service and industry-leading products.
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Customer Case Studies
Gist Gist prides itself on working with its customers to deliver innovative solutions that transform its supply chains; with a track record in doing this spanning more than 50 years.
Long-term partnerships
For over 40 years, almost the whole life of the Gist business, Gray & Adams has been building its fleet, which currently includes a mix of Double Decks and Twin Evaporator Single Decks, and manufacturing over 50 trailers for them each year.
Avara Foods
Innovating improvements
Gray & Adams works tirelessly to offer advice, support and solutions that ensure Gist’s fleet is always evolving and growing, in order to accommodate the requirements of the future and deliver reliable and consistent performance from their products.
Avara Foods is one of the UK’s biggest poultry processors, working with major food retailers and restaurants, to supply a wide range of fresh and frozen poultry.
Customer challenge
Gray & Adams actively offer improvements, most recently suggesting a galvanized chassis in response to the wear patterns recorded on their trailers. The team also regularly feed into Gist’s refurbishment programme after the first seven years of a product’s lifecycle, with key market insights to make improvements that will increase its lifespan.
With a strong focus on ensuring delivery for customers, Avara has a replacement programme, which sees them phase out trailers after a set period. This programme recently levied the requirement for the replacement of 28 trailers. As a condition, Avara wanted to give this work to a business they could partner with and trust in the long term.
Industry leading service
Solution
Through regular site visits, calls, online meetings and robust relationship management, Gray & Adams finds the time to learn every aspect of Gist’s business operation. This ensures it can deliver the service they need. For example, the Gray & Adams team developed and delivered bespoke in-house training to the Gist maintenance team to ensure they are always able to manage their fleet and be self-reliant.
Avara placed this order with Gray & Adams as part of a seven-year deal. Gray & Adams provided 28 bespoke single temperature trailers, which feature ThermoKing refrigeration. The trailers will be used for both in-house transfers between sites and deliveries to customers.
Impact
Gray & Adams designed and built 28 trailers that were well engineered and of a supreme build quality. Avara have therefore received products that will both perform and last for the required length of service. In addition to adding replacements to their fleet, Avara wanted to establish a long-term relationship with a supplier, instead of just having a one-off transactional arrangement. In Gray & Adams they found a partner who are focused on delivering customer service excellence throughout the process with a track record they could trust to deliver, now and into the future.
Our customer says
“The relationship we’ve built with Gray & Adams goes beyond the durability, return on investment and bespoke nature of the products, which are engineered for our precise needs. They understand every aspect of Gist’s operations, making solutions that work for us through their informed and expert teams. Not only this, they meet our tight time scales, source spare parts when we can’t access them elsewhere and are keen to share their expertise - upskilling our maintenance department and taking the time to deliver training workshops to ensure that we are self-reliant.
Working collaboratively
Covid-19 restrictions created a challenge in terms of timing. However, flexibility and understanding from both parties has enabled them to work together to successfully navigate the macro challenges at play.
They go above and beyond the service we see elsewhere in the industry to ensure that our needs are met, keeping an eye on what is coming next to innovate and engineer the future alongside us and futureproof our fleet.
Our customer says
“Gray & Adams have delivered on their promises. They quickly worked with us to define the solution for replacing our trailers, despite the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic. They also gave us the confidence in the quality of the product required for us to enter into what we hope will be a long-lasting partnership with them.”
There’s no challenge too big or too small and we feel supported, with a flexible approach and a ‘can do’ attitude that extends far beyond our expectations. Alongside their quality products, the attention to detail in their service ensures that we will be working with them for many years to come.”
IAN ASHLEY, HEAD OF SAFETY AND LOGISTICS OPERATIONS
MICK PETHARD, GENERAL MANAGER ENGINEERING
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Turners of Soham
Oakland International
Turners’ reputation for providing professional and innovative supply chain solutions is based on extensive experience operating a fleet that travels throughout the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.
Oakland International is an award-winning integrated supply chain specialist, who offer a one-stop-shop for contract packing and food tempering solutions for both B2C and B2B markets.
Long-term partnerships
Customer challenge
Having worked together for 25 years, Turners (Soham) Ltd and Gray & Adams have a synergy across their values and a strong partnership built on integrity and trust.
Oakland International has been established for over 20 years as a supply chain business, delivering packing and tempering solutions to its customers across a range of sectors. It is now pursuing a strategic decision to add distribution to their considerable offering. Due to its exceptional customer service and account management, this proposition is forecast for exponential growth.
Turners of Soham know that they can run Gray & Adams trailers for 10 – 15 years and, as a result, they order over 50 trailers per year to sustain their 750-strong refrigerated fleet.
Oakland International came to Gray & Adams for a fleet of trailers to service the demands of its new distribution solution. The new trailers needed to be of a premier build quality that could withstand the severity of the distribution chain, to ensure down time is minimised. For this reason, although price was a factor, the key driver of decision making was quality and trailers which are best-in-class.
Innovating improvement
A relentless focus on continuous improvement, engineering expertise and a ‘can do’ approach has seen Gray & Adams develop a complete set of vehicle specifications across Turners of Soham’s diverse fleet, which are completely bespoke and optimised for the ever-changing needs of their business. These are reviewed regularly to ensure commitment to continuous improvement and a dynamic opportunity for Turners of Soham to access the very latest innovations.
Solution
In its first order with Gray & Adams, Oakland International commissioned 20 trailers. The Gray & Adams engineering team worked to define specifications for a tri-Axel, 26 pallet, dual evaporation enabled trailer with an under-slung tail lift and multi-compartment temperature controls, which could unquestionably withstand the rigour of day-to-day operations and deliveries.
Gray & Adams further ensured that Turners of Soham are firmly in the driving seat when it comes to innovation, when they recently engaged in a partnership between Turner’s of Soham and Cambridge University, to build a new aerodynamic design for the Turner’s fleet.
A uniquely personal service
Impact
The personal service created by the Gray & Adams business is no accident. Not just bespoke in its product delivery, Gray and Adams creates opportunity for its customers to transform ways of working through responsive service delivery which is tailored to the operational needs of every business they work with.
In line with the requirement for trailers that could handle the impact of their usage, without the need for down time, the Gray & Adams engineering team designed a fleet that is exceptionally durable. This ensures Oakland International will have bespoke products that offer a lifetime of value.
There is no-one in Gray & Adams who isn’t accessible to its customers, from the bottom to the top. The level of shared understanding of the Turners of Soham operation extends far beyond the day-to-day contacts and this detailed understanding across the whole Gray & Adams team allows for unparalleled customer service, no matter who the customer is talking to.
Working collaboratively
Oakland International and Gray & Adams have synergies in their values. Both are family businesses that treat all stakeholders with a long-term view. They also share the same sustainability aims, with both having a massive respect for the environment. Both also value a pragmatic and candid approach to decision making, which helps get the project completed.
Our customer says
“The customer service we receive from Gray & Adams is exceptional. Not only do they take the time to truly understand every element of our business, they bend over backwards for us, time and time again.
Our customer says
“We won’t be looking around anywhere else whilst growing this new fleet. We will be returning to Gray & Adams to fulfil the whole plan. The longevity of product is exactly what we need and exactly what you pay for. Their build quality is best-in-class. To put it simply, things don’t tend to fall off Gray & Adams trailers - they are built so well. We are planning for them to become our long-term partners and look forward to building our relationship further.”
For Turner’s of Soham, the difference is personal. They deliver a tailored all-round experience unlike anything else in the industry, which is consistent, open and responsive. Their careful evaluation of our needs, both current and for the future, alongside their flexible service and detailed knowledge of our business ensures that we get the perfect service every step of the way. “
SHAUN FOLEY, MANAGING DIRECTOR, OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL
TIM KING, GROUP FLEET ENGINEER
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Shop Local: The Urban Delivery Challenge Ian Smith, Group Engineering Manager at Gray & Adams, shares his insight into solving the challenges of delivering in urban environments for its customers. The Growth of Urban Deliveries The decline of the traditional ‘big weekly shop’ has led to a huge rise in the practice of ‘topping up’ from more convenient, smaller, local retailers. The implication of this is that our customers now need to deliver higher volumes to their high street shops, whilst also reducing their journeys to cut carbon emissions. This paradox presents a number of tests for operators. Top Challenges 1. Maximising payloads 2. Diminishing loads 3. Turning circles 4. Vulnerable road users 5. Fuel efficiency The most obvious challenge is the restriction to maximum vehicle size, due to manoeuvrability requirements. The available space within cities, means the height and width of vehicles need to be of a reduced size; this is something enforced by both operational feasibilities and law. Sourcing smaller vehicles is a challenge that can be easily overcome. Sourcing smaller vehicles which deliver the large payloads required, however, is a bigger challenge. The test for delivering in urban environments is how to achieve large volume deliveries with a smaller vehicle. This is not the only challenge, however. Most operators will run multi-drop deliveries, when stocking up inner city stores. This introduces the challenge of dealing with diminishing loads. When a load is reduced, the remaining stock can overload axles or kingpins, due to the increasingly unevenly distributed weight, which can cause terminal wear.
Gray & Adams’ engineering team must contend with the challenges of the tight turning circles required for manoeuvring and the increased measures required for protecting the high volumes of vulnerable road users in urban areas. Delivering in urban environments is a challenging operation, which requires specialist engineering. Bespoke Solutions Engineering at Gray & Adams involves designing the best product for the task, rather than delivering an off-the-shelf solution. Delivering in urban environments is one such challenge we help to resolve through tailored design and engineering. Our sales team meet with customers to assess their requirements. We then begin the cross-department process of developing a specification. This process involves a clear analysis of what the customer needs, as well as the complexity of it. As part of this, our electrical, structural and mechanical engineers, along with our legal team, design team and management team, work to examine different areas of how this product could operate, looking to stress test solutions and confirm a feasible option. Only once each internal party has reviewed and signed off the final specification, is the product presented to the customer and then signed off for production. This problem-solving process allows us to collectively engineer solutions which resolve the challenges that urban operators face. For example, to allow the delivery of large volumes with a small vehicle we look to utilise variations of double-deck units. This enables us to maximise payload, whilst maintaining a smaller size. To allow for the tight turning circles required, we design bespoke systems, validated by computer simulations to ensure acute angles of manoeuvrability can be achieved, where required, in support of our customers delivery objectives.
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“Having worked with Gray & Adams for 26 years, we have first-hand experience of their track record in providing engineering solutions which allow us to overcome the many challenges of delivering in urban environments. We have engaged with Gray & Adams on a number of key projects for James Hall & Co over the years, and their innovative and high-quality solutions have now become part of our standard specification. The longevity of our relationship shows the strength of our partnership and exemplifies the trust we place in Gray & Adams to keep delivering for us. The speed of reaction to technical enquiries and access to key personnel within their organisation is pivotal when deciding which suppliers we work with, given the ever changing sector that we operate in. This enables us to make key decisions with confidence. We are currently working on some further engineering innovation from Ian Smith and his team in the urban delivery space, which will hopefully be completed in the coming months.� IAN FARNWORTH, FLEET ENGINEERING MANAGER, JAMES HALL & CO LTD
shire AB43 9HU burgh Aberdeen
020 15:49
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Gray & Adams Celebrate 2020 Top Track 250 Success We are delighted to celebrate our recent listing at No. 163 in the 16th annual Sunday Times Pwc Top Track 250, which was published in September. One of only 24 companies from Scotland, Gray & Adams has successfully beaten its previous placing of 210 in 2018, 230 in 2017 and 226 in 2016, demonstrating its continued position, particularly in light of the challenges generated by COVID-19, as the UK’s leading supplier of temperaturecontrolled semi-trailers and rigid vehicle bodywork. The Sunday Times Pwc Top Track 250 league table ranks Britain’s private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales. It is compiled by Fast Track and published in The Sunday Times each October, with an awards event in November. This year’s special COVID-19 edition of the awards highlights the essential contribution that mid-market companies, like Gray & Adams, have made to the UK during the pandemic from supporting the NHS to enabling remote working.
James and Peter Gray, Joint Managing Directors of Gray & Adams, commented: “We’re delighted to see Gray & Adams recognised on the Top Track 250 once more, achieving our highest ever placing. Our team is committed to delivering high quality, industry-leading products and services for our customers and this has been shown in the success and growth of our business over the last 60+years. We hope this accolade will make them proud to work for Gray & Adams and that they see their hard work reflected in this success.”
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Kenny Stewart: Half a Century of Service Now retired, Kenny worked for Gray & Adams for 49 years, working with us from the age of 15 to 64. He saw the company grow exponentially in that time, with his work contributing to that achievement. How did you start working at Gray & Adams? My father was a farmer, but there wasn’t enough work for me to join him on the farm. I was always interested in mechanical work and fabrication, so with a few friends already working at Gray & Adams, I decided to join them. I joined the business as an Apprentice Body Builder. At this time, the Body Builders got a frame and had to build the body around it, pretty much by themselves. We had to do a bit of everything to create the final unit; welding, fibreglass fabrication, woodwork and insulation fitting, to name a few of our tasks. It would be fair to say that we did the majority of the build elements when it came to producing a van. I really enjoyed that as a job! It was very satisfying to do everything yourself. The variety was gratifying and the pride at making a whole van was immense when it was done. This type of work was the favourite thing I did in my time at Gray & Adams. What was your role when you retired? The change to manufacturing sandwich panel trailers saw the business move to a build by section model. I moved into the department who would be making the doors. This is where I stayed for 30 years and I finished as Line Manager within the door department. What has changed since you started working with Gray & Adams? The business has got so much bigger. The sheer size of the factory compared to when I started is now so much more impressive. The facility in Fraserburgh is huge. The volume of work we have coming through the factory has also increased from when I began all those years ago. We have grown out of all recognition and our capacity for work is so much bigger.
What is your proudest moment during your career? I think my proudest moment would be meeting Prince Charles and talking to him about my role in the business. He came to visit us to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. He took a tour of the factory and when he came to the door department, Colin Melvin, my Assistant Manager, and I were able to meet him and have a conversation with him about what we do for Gray & Adams. It was lovely for him to be interested in what we do in our day-to-day roles! What is Gray & Adams like to work for? Gray & Adams certainly look after their people. They really care for staff and will do what is right by you. I was ill, one of my main reasons for retiring, and the support I received from the business was first class. Nothing was a problem. As soon as they found out, they bent over backwards to make sure I had what I needed. The Directors were brand new about it! The business is also a very safe company to work for – it really is rock solid. Similar businesses have come and gone, but we have remained and will not be going anywhere. What is your advice for anyone starting at Gray & Adams? Gray & Adams is very good to its people, but they expect you to work hard too. You have to be able to put in the effort; we need everyone to be delivering their best. So, you have to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and maintain a strong work ethic. If you do, the team will support your progression and development to any level in the company. Sum up Gray & Adams up in one word? Dependable. As an employee and as a customer you can rely on Gray & Adams to deliver for you. What are your retirement plans? Well, my first retirement goal is to fix up my back garden… after that I will see what takes my fancy!
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A Lifetime of Value: Long Service Thanks
Testament to the way the business is run, Gray & Adams has a number of employees who have served with us for many years. Our company has been built on their commitment and high-quality work, and we would like to take this opportunity to profile their careers and share our sincere thanks for their service.
George Davidson 25 Years
Wes Scott 25 Years
Glenn Gibson 31 Years
George is a Fraserburgh local. His early life saw him work on farms but on looking for a switch to a different working environment, he made the move to Gray & Adams. He joined as a labourer in the welding shop, and then went on to drive our forklifts. 25 years later, he is a Line Manager in the forklift team where he oversees the daily running of forklift operations; organising the shifting of materials, maintenance of the machines and managing the team.
Wes followed his uncle, Trevor Scott, into Gray & Adams 25 years ago; Trevor still works at Gray & Adams and has well over 30 years of service with the company himself. Starting in the glue shop, Wes has progressed to his role as Assistant Line Manager for Twin Deck Completions. This sees him manage a team to complete units with their final stage fittings.
Glenn has been at Gray & Adams for 31 years. He joined as a welder when the company he was previously working for went into administration. 31 years later, he is now our Body Welding Department Manager and is in charge of a tight-knit team of welders.
“In my 25 years, the biggest change I have noticed is the scaling up of the business. We now produce much more than we ever have before. The factory is huge in comparison to when I started and our products are very popular, so it is only going to get bigger! If you haven’t already, you should come and see it; everyone is impressed at the scale and scope of our production operations.”
“The achievement I am most proud of, is the fact that I have had a hand in most of the lifting decks that have come out of Gray & Adams, having been here since their introduction. This always gives me a sense of pride when I see them out on the road. I can say with confidence – I built that.”
“I have a great team and they have become my extended family. I have known many of them for years now, most since they were young men, and the part of my job I have enjoyed the most is seeing the team grow up and become experts in their field. They are incredible people to work and share life with.”
Welcome to the Team
Vikki Robson
Paul Wickenden
New HR Manager, Fraserburgh We’re pleased to welcome Vikki Robson into the Gray & Adams team at Fraserburgh as HR Manager. Welcome Vikki! “It is a pleasure to have joined Gray and Adams. I have felt extremely welcomed and very much a part of the team, it’s been great getting to know those I’ve met already, and I am looking
forward to meeting with more people as time goes on. I am thrilled to be here and I’m already excited about the HR projects we have ahead of us.”
New Finance Manager, Doncaster We would also like to extend a warm welcome to Paul Wickenden, who is taking on the role of Finance Manager at Doncaster. “I’ve really enjoyed my first few months at Gray & Adams and have been impressed with everything I have seen and experienced so far. For such a big business it has a very strong people-centred culture and
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an impressive work ethic across its teams. I’m really proud to be a part of the finance team in Doncaster and to be a part of Gray & Adams success story as we move forward into 2021.”
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