With the new year fast approaching, Merridale have been taking the time to reflect on how 2019 has been for them and what their goals are for the future.
Overall, there has been steady growth over the last 12 months, with annual sales now exceeding £2.2million. This has been achieved with the help of a significant increase in demand for Merridale’s tank management systems, which offer enhanced anti-theft protection and ‘sudden-drop’ detection. There has also been an increased demand for annual inspection and calibration services for customers to comply with DSEAR risk assessment requirements.
Contracts manager Kathy Withers said, “Over the last year there has been more of a focus on aftersales, with more customers now understanding the importance of service contracts and extended warranties and taking advantage of the brilliant aftersales services we offer.”
There has been an increased focus over the last year on aftersales, with more customers now understanding the importance of service contracts and extended warranties and taking advantage of the brilliant aftersales services we offer.
John Browne, Sales Engineer – Merridale
2019 has seen new customers transferring to Merridale FuelWorks from a competitor’s system, as well as an increase in existing customers opting to make the switch from an older Merridale package to the web-based reporting system. This is, in part, due to customers realising the long-term benefits of using the tried and proven system which now features CO2 and NOx reporting in line with FORS calculations.
Whilst sales of Merridale’s ATEX certified pumps and dispensers have held up over the year, there has been a steady uptake on their AdBlue units in both forms. Merridale have also noted an increase of interest in their duel hose pumps, the Merridale MX-P Twin, which offer both standard and fast flow pumps to cater for HGV and standard vehicle fuelling.
Merridale will be looking to use this years’ performance as a platform to improve and grow over the next 12 months. Sales director Stephen Hannan said, “We are looking forward to strengthening our product range during 2020 with the introduction of a 120/130 litre per minute diesel pump, available with built-in fuel management, in order to cater more for fleet operators that demand a faster turnaround for their vehicles.”
“Merridale will also continue to provide enhancements to the FuelWorks web-based reporting package, thus ensuring it remains the ‘go-to’ option for operators.”
In order to meet any challenges that the future may bring and to help support Merridale’s ambitions of further growth, the company have this year added some new faces to their team. As well as bringing their marketing efforts in-house by hiring Matthew Sidaway, Merridale have taken on Luke Genner to manage sales in the south of the UK.
The company’s already impressive aftersales service team has also been bolstered with an additional service engineer, Dan Keen, and a dedicated inspection and calibration specialist, Ralph Smart.
