Given the quantity of products manufactured by Thomas Tunnock Limited you might expect the goods-out area to be a hive of frenetic activity. But it’s not. It is, in fact, a remarkably well-ordered place with a steady stream of vehicles too-ing and fro-ing. The man overseeing the entire operation is Transport Manager John Bain.
“We carry out 25 percent of our own distribution, with the remainder being conducted by a variety of external hauliers,” he says. “Between us, we cover every customer from the smallest retailer to the largest supermarkets. Quite a proportion of our output also goes to export – Tunnock’s products, you know, can be found in no fewer than 34 countries around the world!
“In terms of transport we focus on the UK multi-drop operations, for which we run a fleet of five Scania rigids. We’ve got two four-wheelers and three 6x2s which we find suits our needs ideally.
“We have been buying Scania trucks for the best part of 27 years and it is their reliability and performance that keeps us coming back for more. Also, as our drivers spend up to three nights a week out living in the cab, driveracceptability is another extremely important factor to us.
“Aftersales support is another area where Scania rates very highly. Prior to operating Scania vehicles, we used to run AECs. They undoubtedly had a good network, but when we moved across to Scania we discovered they had a great network!”
Tunnock tends to keep its vehicles for five years. “During that time, our local Scania depot in Bellshill does 90 percent of our maintenance. Apart from that, I have to say our vehicles have been largely trouble-free,” adds John Bain.
Another gentleman taking a close interest in the performance of the fleet is the company’s Chairman and Managing Director, Boyd Tunnock MBE, a third-generation member of the family firm who regards himself today as a trustee of this proud Scottish enterprise and all it stands for. “When it comes to any item of equipment purchased by Thomas Tunnock Limited, my role is to ensure we always source the best machine for the job,” he says. “Quality is a theme which runs through our entire operation – and in Scania we have what I would have to say is the Rolls Royce of trucks.”
While Tunnock’s products are firmly rooted in the past – after all, the ingredients have barely changed in 40 years – the company’s appreciation of fine engineering and technological best-practice has led to the development of one of the most advanced production plants of its type.
But what perhaps makes Thomas Tunnock Limited unique is that despite its seemingly never-ending growth and multi-national success, the firm has managed to retain its small-town-family-business feel and can justly portray itself as a business with a human face. And the legacy that has created – you suspect everyone involved with firm would readily agree – is probably the company’s greatest single achievement to date.
