Date: 19 February 2018

Fresh start: Chris Franklin and Shirley Larkan, with their new Mercedes-Benz Vito

Mercedes-Benz Dealer Rygor delivers a cup winner for Café FreshA smart, cappuccino-coloured Mercedes-Benz Vito provided the perfect blend of style and practicality for newly established mobile coffee business Café Fresh.

Entrepreneurs Chris Franklin and Shirley Larkan are now using their new van to take their top-quality coffee and snacks to customers in workplaces and at public events in and around their home town of Staines, West London.

The Vito arrived via the Heathrow branch of leading Dealer Group Rygor Commercials. A Long-bodied 111 CDI model, it is powered by a fuel-efficient 1.6-litre engine which directs its 114 hp output to the front wheels – other Vito versions are also available with rear-wheel drive. The couple acquired their new van with competitive funding support from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and have also signed-up to a fixed-cost Service Care package, under which three scheduled visits to Rygor’s workshop are covered by a single, cost-effective payment.

The van’s rear cargo area is fitted with a professional two-group espresso machine, capable of making up to four cups of coffee at once, as well as storage for Café Fresh’s range of pastries and snacks. Accessible through the twin sliding side doors are three refrigerated compartments, for milk and cold drinks, and a water tank and generator. There is also a compact electronic till with card reader capable of taking contactless payments.

“The Vito is the perfect size for this job,” said Mr Franklin. “We’ve set it up so there’s very little packing or unpacking to be done, and moving between sites is as simple as possible. This means customers are never kept waiting, but can enjoy fresh, hot coffee within seconds of us arriving.”

He continued: “We did a lot of research and looked at a number of different vehicles before deciding on the Vito. We wanted a top-quality vehicle for our own comfort and safety, while reliability was also key because the business can only earn money when the van is on the road.

“Crucially, the Vito also has the high-quality, premium brand image that we want to project for Café Fresh, to reflect the high standard of the coffee and the service that we offer. We spent a lot of time and effort sourcing the right coffee beans to create our special blend, and an equal amount of care went into the selection of the vehicle. We’re totally satisfied that the Vito and our coffee are indeed, like our company motto, ‘a cup above the rest’.”

As with all Mercedes-Benz vans, Café Fresh’s vehicle came with a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty, and MobiloVan cover, which includes free emergency roadside assistance.

Mr Franklin praised “the excellent service” from Rygor Commercials. “Van Sales Manager John Lloyd and his colleagues took a real interest in our business plan and helped us specify the vehicle perfectly for our needs, while the finance and service packages they arranged represent superb value for money.”

John Lloyd added: “It’s great to see a new venture getting off the ground and we wish Chris and Shirley all the best with Café Fresh. Here at Rygor Commercials our commitment to Setting Standards means we’re always delighted to sit down and talk over the transport needs of entrepreneurs in any sector – especially over a cup of coffee!”

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For more information, or to request bigger/higher-res image files, please contact:John Ripley or Steve WarrenImpact Communications, 01926 842126John: 07771 484595, john@impactcom.co.ukSteve: 07770 470251, steve@impactcom.co.uk

Notes to Editors: Rygor Commercials

Founded in 1992, the Rygor Commercials Group operates from a network of 11 sites located across, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, West London, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

Among its staff of more than 600 people, the company employs 180 Mercedes-Benz trained technicians, 60 parts specialists and 30 sales executives.

Rygor sells and services Mercedes-Benz Vans and Trucks, FUSO Canter and Unimog vehicles, as well as servicing a wide range of manufacturers’ commercial vehicles, buses and coaches.