A PADIHAM firm has landed a contract to supply refrigerated vans to a national wholesaler.

CoolKit, which is based at Shuttleworth Mead in Blackburn Road, will supply 14 multi-temperature LWB Renault Master vehicles to Alpine Fine Foods Ltd.

The East Lancashire company’s bespoke configurations ensure that the Hull-based company meets both EU and UK legislation covering food hygiene regulations and temperature control requirements during the storage and transport of perishable foods.

Alpine Fine Foods provides a wholesale and delivery service covering a range of ambient, chilled, frozen, fresh meat, fruit and vegetables along with non-food items.

Mark Beaton, CoolKit’s sales executive, said the vans, which it insulates, allow multi-drop-offs.

He said: “Carrying a range of ambient, chilled and frozen products can be a challenge in itself, but add to that multiple deliveries with a high number of door openings over a short period of time and you have a temperature control challenge on your hands.

“Our design team worked closely with Alpine, alongside our suppliers GAH and Seven Transcan, in order to deliver a solution that precisely met their needs.”

CoolKit, which was established in 2005, has doubled the size of its facilities this year, investing heavily in new manufacturing equipment to help meet increased demand.

It now employs 40 people, supplying a full range of refrigerated vans, van conversions and associated products including its own range of vehicle lining kits and mobile aftersales support engineers.

Last month it won a contract to convert Welsh Water’s vans that are used in handling samples for analysis.

A temperature monitoring and recording system was also installed by the East Lancashire firm.