Below are four case studies that were done with a selection of our customers, they range from some of our largest operators, to a man and wife team working from home.
(Durham)
Taking the brand mobile and feeding their customers at the workplace
Launching a mobile food to go business alongside their 60 bakery branches in the North East has generated a healthy increase in profitable new business for the long established family business.
After a period of research and investigation into how best to launch the concept in the Durham area, one vehicle was purchased to start developing the mobile business model, which quickly began to generate incremental sales and profit.
In the space of just 12 months, 6 Jiffy Trucks have been procured and launched onto successful delivery rounds, working from the main bakery manufacturing site in Durham.
Recognising the growth in the food-to-go market nationally, meant this was an opportunity not to be missed, and enabling the business to reach new customers who previously couldn’t access the company’s shop locations for breakfasts, lunch and snacks.
The business is in a prime location surrounded by offices and businesses within a 10-mile radius, where delivered high quality sandwiches and hot food provide a convenient choice for employees and shift workers. Following a fire several years ago which devastated their premises, the bakery rebuilt a new facility on the same site which now lends itself perfectly to the mobile operation. The food preparation is easily integrated into the main daily activity, with stocking, cleaning and maintenance all conducted from the state of the art facility.
Having an established, respected brand proved to be a huge benefit when launching the mobile business, as the vehicles are sign written with the company brand, this has attracted customers who already know the high street branches, and are already familiar with and trust the high quality products they have come to expect
Of course having quality products and providing the right range of goods on each delivery round is essential. The vehicles carry a different range to the shops. The heated on-board section means that new products such as hot baguettes can be added to the traditional pies and pasties, which are increasingly popular and generating increased revenue.
Each vehicle makes an average of forty-fifty calls on their round and businesses are able to pre-order platters of food for meetings and corporate events. Further development of outside catering is being explored to add further customer value.
The I.T. has been relatively easy to integrate with the shop premises systems and each vehicle has an EPOS facility to collect precise transaction information which is then incorporated into the overall business performance data. Customers are able to order items such as personalised celebration cakes from the van sales representative, which are then delivered to them at their workplace, again, adding extra convenience to workers with already busy schedules.
The future plans involve doubling the size of the fleet, with the next 2 vehicles and delivery rounds already planned for launch before the end of 2011.
The company chose to operate the Jiffy “Bocado” model, which is the most popular vehicle for this kind of delivery round, as it carries the highest stock capacity and is designed for optimum visual impact and display, whilst making security and serving position easy for the operator.
The bakery feels that there is scope to use the vehicles more than at present, with the addition of a second shift in certain areas where there is a high volume of shift workers – for example the local fire-service are keen supporters and require a service beyond the traditional morning and lunch delivery times.
The Peters Bakery team are delighted with the success of their newest venture, which has run smoothly and easily from the beginning. With a little initial support from Jiffy Trucks to master basic principles, the team at Peters have embraced the opportunity and are enthusiastically developing an additional source of revenue to help them grow their business further still. www.peters.co.uk
Cooplands (Doncaster)
Cooplands Bapvan saves the day!
Food retailing requires inventiveness and astuteness besides a talent to create great products, which is why Cooplands of Doncaster have developed a new mobile approach to develop their business further.
The “BapVans” are a fun interpretation of the well-know super-hero, serving hot and cold snacks around the South Yorkshire area. Using the Jiffy Bocado Truck, Cooplands have established a fleet of 21 vehicles, all bearing the company’s distinctive new BapVan brand identity and incorporating the unmistakeable theme tune – so customers are in no doubt their delivery is on it’s way!
Ever since Cooplands started in the early 1930’s the company has had an innovative approach to business. Being mobile is something which they believe can take their business to even greater heights in the 21st century by delivering greater market penetration and accessing new customers in new locations who can’t get out to a shop or supermarket to buy their lunch each day.
The versatility of the Jiffy Truck and the ability to carry large volumes of stock mean that other services such as corporate catering and event catering can also be developed alongside the regular daily business calls.
With a range of products which encompass hot and cold items such as savoury pies and pastries, cakes and sandwiches, the Jiffy Bocado’s display arrangement provides the perfect shop window to perfectly present Cooplands products in a mobile retail capacity.
Cooplands popular cakes and pastries are available wholesale from Cooplands. For further information please contact www.cooplands.co.uk
Mr Dave Taylor of York
On The Road to Bigger and Better Business
Business has grown beyond all the wildest dreams of Dave Taylor of Martinhouse Butchers in Strensall, thanks to extending into mobile food delivery with Jiffy Trucks. Despite today’s competitive trading conditions, Martinhouse have developed a proven formula which is delivering success every day.
24 years ago when Mr Taylor, a qualified butcher, set up his first butchers shop – full of ambition to sell his high quality meats, he had no idea that he would eventually be delivering greater sales and profits through mobile catering and his highly prized Jiffy Trucks.
Mr Taylor decide to try mobile deliveries with his range of sandwiches, fresh baked pies and snacks whilst considering how he could develop business through his already successful shops. He saw an opportunity to take food to places where there were no shops within easy reach for workers to get their lunch and break snacks.
Starting with construction sites and selling off trays from the back of a delivery van, Mr Taylor’s success quickly enabled him to purchase a new Jiffy Truck. Jiffy Trucks are specially designed catering vehicles, which are developed to cater for the unique requirements of hot and cold mobile catering – storage, display, hygiene, temperature control, safety and security. Over 35 years experience have enabled Jiffy to streamline the designs and incorporate many practical and technical features on the Trucks; which has led to them being recognised as industry leaders.
For Mr Taylor, a real business benefit was being able to bring hot pies and soups on days when the weather was cold as well as chilled drinks, sandwiches, cakes and treats. The potential of operating Jiffy Trucks soon became evident through the increased profits he was taking each day. “The incremental turnover made a real difference to my business” says Mr Taylor.
Dave comments “the beauty of the Jiffy Truck is the versatility it brings to build your round by taking advantage of changes in the local area. If a new business park opens, you can respond immediately and be there on site selling food. As sometimes happens, sites and offices close or relocate, taking your customers with them but again the real commercial benefit of the Jiffy Truck is that because you’re mobile – you simply go and find customers somewhere else – with fixed premises this is so much harder.”
After 15 years of success mobile selling, Mr Taylor operates 2 Jiffy Trucks and has ambitions for more. They can be used for special events as well as normal office hour trading and if you’re prepared to put in the work can deliver great rewards.
The secret is having great quality products – his customers love the fresh sandwiches and pies which are made on site each day and is famous for the Martinhouse Flapjack – which is unique recipe known only to a few! (600 pieces are sold each week!). Cleanliness and good presentation are paramount – as is having a great range of products that keep customers interested.
Why have Jiffy made such a difference? The team that hand build Jiffy Trucks in Shipley are passionate about the success of their customers businesses. “They’re spot on” says Mr Taylor. If I’ve ever had a problem, nothing has been too much trouble for them to sort it out. Customer care is something that’s so important when you rely on a vehicle to do business. I have absolute 100% confidence in Jiffy being there if I need them and their ability to keep me on the road.”
Mr Taylor is still full of ambition to change and grow his business and is firm that Jiffy Trucks are part of his future. With 60% of his turnover now coming from his Jiffy Trucks and he believes that’s possible to build this even further – and is keen for other businesses to see the growth potential with Jiffy.
Steve Edward – Victoria’s (Midlands)
Victoria’s is a classic demonstration of how a husband and wife team have developed a successful business over years of hard work and dedication – starting with their first Jiffy Truck in 1996.
Steve Edwards and his wife, Victoria, started as a mobile catering business after recognising an opportunity in the catering market locally. Always aspiring to work for himself, Steve began the business with a Bedford Rascal which enabled them to get started, and soon the decision was made to invest in a new, bigger Jiffy Truck, which offered enhanced operating facilities and also presented a better company image. Being made of stainless steel, it is easier to clean and present the best possible hygiene standards.
Jiffy Trucks have a strong track record for innovation and product development and Steve found that the Jiffy team were always looking for feedback on how his Truck was performing for him, keen to understand what added features would bring extra benefits to him in his daily operation. Over recent years, working closely with customers like Steve has led to the development of improved display features, hand-wash facilities, cash management systems and security to name just a few.
Having traded for 12 years and developed a successful working model, Steve and Victoria have converted their kitchen to professional standards and recently celebrated their third successive Five Star Award from the Department for Environmental Health for their excellent food preparation standards, storage and Jiffy Truck hygiene maintenance.
Having at one point successfully operated 5 vehicles, Victoria’s now run Toyota Bocado Jiffy Truck, and have a profitable, sustainable business – one which they’re very happy with. Steve is still very hands on and had just finished changing a wheel. He and his wife really enjoy the lifestyle – even though at times it’s hard work with very early mornings. “It’s full-on, all the time” says Steve, “but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I couldn’t do better than the Jiffy Truck I have, because it’s reliable, and does the job better than the rest because it’s so well thought out for the operator.
Steve is very clear that speed and efficiency are key to successfully operating a Jiffy Truck, as well as a friendly personable approach, so much so that he has successfully developed his rounds over the years purely through word of mouth.
The future looks healthy for Victoria’s, with everything operating like a well oiled machine – Steve is philosophical about the current economic climate, “people always need to eat, so if the product range is right, as well as the price, we’re bringing convenience and quality food to a local workforce who are loyal customers because of the friendly delivery service we give, in locations where often there are no other catering facilities available.
Jiffy Trucks have enabled us to build up a really enjoyable business and are unsurpassable in the high level of customer service and support they deliver.
