South Cheshire ice cream van maker scoops 55 new vehicles

South Cheshire’s ice cream van specialist Whitby Morrison has scooped another 55 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters from Mertrux.

The firm has bucked the trend in the current pandemic, despite Covid-19 wiping out spring and summer outdoor events this year.

The firm relies on East Midlands Dealer Mertrux Truck & Van to help it lick the competition and always recommends a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Most of the 85-plus ice cream vans that leave the company’s factory each year are based on 3.5-tonne Sprinter chassis cabs.

And Whitby Morrison’s 2020 order for 55 Sprinter 314 CDI chassis cabs is in line with previous years.

Mertrux has now delivered well over half of these long L2 rear-wheel drive vehicles – the 314 CDI is also available with front-wheel drive – with the last due to be handed over by the end of March.

Operations Director Ed Whitby said: “Covid has had an huge impact on our industry, given that virtually every outdoor event, from concerts and county shows, to fairs and festivals, has been either postponed or cancelled completely.

“What we saw, though, in the period between March and September when ice cream van operators tend to make their money, was something of a return to the 1970s.

“So instead of parking up at the same location for several days at a time, many of our customers were back on the streets and selling delicious, freshly pulled ice cream right outside people’s homes.

“Of course, some operators have had a really tough time, which is very sad.

“For others, though, who’ve gone back to their roots, it’s worked brilliantly.

“There have been a lot more ice cream vans out and about in residential areas than in recent years, and that’s been really good to see.”

Mr Whitby, who’s grandfather Bryan Whitby established the family business in 1962, said the pandemic represented the greatest challenge it had ever faced.

The company team had worked extremely hard to maintain relationships, and had put together some highly attractive acquisition packages.

“We’ve done all we can to support our customers, and they, in turn, have supported us,” he added.

Whitby Morrison’s ice cream vans are hand-built and finished to meet each operator’s precise requirements, which usually takes six weeks.

A new vehicle typically costs anything up to £85,000.