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Allied Bakeries
Calor Delivers Real Flour Power
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One of the UK’s largest bread producers has teamed up with the UK’s leading supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to keep its loaves on the move.
Allied Bakeries has appointed Calor as its preferred supplier of LPG to power its forklift trucks, critical to its round the clock, environmentally sensitive operation.
Supplying approximately one third of the UK’s demand, Allied Bakeries produces and distributes a wide range of bread, rolls and bakery snacks to tens of thousands of retail outlets. A strong portfolio of high street brands includes Kingsmill, Allinson’s and Sunblest as well as supermarket own label produce.
Baked to strict food health and hygiene regulations, it is essential that every stage of Allied’s production process is free from potential contamination and pollutants.
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LPG Was The Only Option
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 At the Orpington site in Kent, Allied Bakeries operates a fleet of 14 Caterpillar, LPG powered, forklift trucks. The machines operate and assist at the end of the production line, distributing the packaged baked bread within the warehouse and loading and unloading the delivery vehicles.
Doug McLaren, Allied Bakeries’ transport controller, underlines the importance of maintaining an ultra clean environment. “For companies like Allied involved in food production, health and hygiene is a top priority,” he says.
“To ensure we comply with the health and hygiene standards we couldn’t have a diesel machine anywhere near the bread. The emissions are just too high for a food production area,” he adds.
With a strong emphasis on maintaining a clean working environment, Allied focused on LPG and electricity as the cleaner fuel options.
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24 Hour Power Supply
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 As a market leader, Allied Bakeries runs a 24 hours a day, seven days a week operation. The fleet of fork trucks is in continuous operation with 60 operators working eight and twelve hour shifts throughout the day. The machines are re-fuelled at the end of every shift, ready for the next one.
In this type of operation, the fuel that is specified must be available as a continuous supply. At the Orpington site, Calor LPG is stored in bulk tanks and the trucks can be easily re-fuelled in minutes. It is this instant availability that made LPG the obvious choice for Allied Bakeries.
Doug McLaren outlines the importance of LPG to the Orpington operation: “Our trucks are working continually throughout the day, so we need a fuel that is available instantly. With electricity, if someone forgets to put the trucks on charge, we can’t work.”
Doug Mclaren is safe in the knowledge that Allied has Calor on site. “Bread is a live, perishable product and it has to be delivered within 24 hours of being baked. I know that if a truck runs out of gas I can get it re-fuelled in minutes,” he adds.
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Calor and Allied Bakeries in Partnership
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 The business relationship began over seven years ago with the consultation and installation of the bulk tank facility at the Orpington bakery. When installed, Calor invited Allied Bakeries’ training staff to undertake the Calor safety training programme, which included correct re-fuelling procedures.
Doug Mclaren adds: “On average, Calor delivers once a week, but there are occasions when production increases and additional gas is needed. This is never a problem for Calor, as we can have deliveries whenever we want.”
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