CoolKit sales up for seventh consecutive year

Burnley-based refrigerated vehicle specialist CoolKit has registered a 21 per cent increase in revenues, marketing a seventh straight year of double-digit growth.

The figures are in contrast to the light commercial vehicle market at large, which contracted by 3.6 per cent over the last 12 months, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The past year saw CoolKit income exceed £12m for the first time. Growth in the sale of converted vehicles was the main driving factor behind the growth, with 360 vans sold, an increase of 11 per cent over 2016.

CoolKit managed to secure orders for major fleets including AAH Pharmaceuticals, Iceland Foods, Marks & Spencer, Lex Autolease and Vanarama.

During 2017, CoolKit also secured accreditations from manufacturers including Toyota, Renault Trucks, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Ford Motor Company.

Rupert Gatty, managing director of CoolKit, said: “In 2018 we will be continuing to focus on delivering the best products and service to our customers, aiming for outstanding customer satisfaction and maintaining our reputation as the industry leaders in the refrigerated transport market.”

The relocation to new premises in 2016 trebled the company’s manufacturing operations to a 45,000 square feet area, creating one of the UK’s biggest panel van conversion facilities.

In 2017, CoolKit acquired additional neighbouring premises of a further 25,000 sq ft, which facilitates extra capacity and vehicle storage as well as enabling them to showcase their range of products to their customers in an exciting new format. Now benefiting from an enhanced and re-organised sales team with specialisations in fleet sales, van retailing, aftersales support and export, CoolKit is well poised to command further substantial market share in 2018.